Hishammuddin regrets “Allah” ban

KUALA LUMPUR: Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said that his predecessor should not have banned the word “Allah” from being used by the Catholic Church. The decision, he added, will continue to haunt his ministry “for a very long time.” “In this ministry, it is a zero-sum game.

We are [now] in an uncharted landscape which will haunt us for a very long time. “We should have let the sleeping dogs lie. It was triggered by those that believed that the word “Allah” should not be used in Sabah and Sarawak,” he said during the Fourth Annual Malaysian Student Leaders Summit here. Former home minister Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar had imposed the word ban on the Church’s newspaper, the HERALD, two years ago.

Syed Hamid had temporary allowed the conditional use of the word “Allah”, only to rescind the government gazette later. He had then cited fears that the use of word outside an Islamic context would cause confusion to Muslims. Today, Hishammudin stressed that the Church appreciated the circumstances surrounding the ban.

The Catholic Church has since won a court ruling upholding its constitutional right to print the word “Allah” in its newspaper on December 31, 2009 but a government application to stay the ruling has dragged the case out longer. The Court of Appeal has yet to indicate when it will move the case along. Several retired jurists said it cannot take very long, while one lawyer said it could take up to two years before the first hearing.

“We are looking at it and there is a court case and we are waiting for the outcome. There is [a] difference between acceptance and customs that have been used in the past in Sabah and Sarawak. The reaction from Muslims in the peninsular and Sabah and Sarawak will not be the same,” Hishammuddin said. Supporters of the Church have argued that Bahasa Malaysia-speaking Christians in Sabah and Sarawak have used the word “Allah” for generations and it has become part of their cultural norms.

Article source:http://www.heraldmalaysia.com/news/Hishammuddin-regrets-%E2%80%9CAllah%E2%80%9D-ban-6147-2-1.html

Rescind the “Allah” ban – MCA Publicity Bureau to Home Minister

Press Statement by MCA Central Committee member Sdr Loh Seng Kok (Deputy Chairman of MCA Publicity Bureau)


The remarks by Home Minister Dato’ Seri Hishamuddin bin Tun Hussein Onn as reported in The Malaysian Insider (1 August 2010) that he “regrets the ‘Allah’ ban” and that “We (Home Ministry) are in an uncharted landscape which will haunt us for a very long time… We should have let the sleeping dogs lie” do suggest that the Home Minister is fully aware that forbidding “Allah” has turned into a divisive national issue which can become an Archilles Heel against Barisan Nasional.

MCA therefore urges Dato’ Seri Hishamuddin to use all the authority vested in him as Home Minister to rescind the ban. By doing so, the Home Minister will be respected as a Barisan Nasional leader who looks after rights and interests of all Malaysians, including protecting the Constitutional rights of minorities. Moreover, by withdrawing the prohibition, the Home Minister will be able to abate the issue which has already been politicized unnecessarily.

Making illegal, restricting or modifying the usage of the terminology does not affect only Christians, but it should be viewed from a Malaysian perspective as Sikhs and Hindus too will be denied their Constitutional right as there are references of “Allah” in the Guru Granth Sahib of the Sikh and Veda, the Scriptures of the of the Sikh and Hindu communities respectively.

To only allow “Allah” in East Malaysia reeks of 1 country, 2 systems which negates the fact that about 100,000 native Sarawak and Sabah Christians are now based on the Peninsular. Moreover, Christian orang aslis on the Peninsular also refer to God as “Allah”.

Malaysia would also make it to the world news for all the wrong reasons if Indonesian Christians and Middle Eastern tourists like Palestinian, Arab or Lebanese Christians who also refer to God as “Allah” and are citizsens of countries with a huge Muslim majority were to have any of their religious publications confiscated upon arrival at our airports or seaports.

Considering that this Malaysian Insider article came under the “Most Read in last 24 hours” category and the responses that it generated disagree to the ban, this shows that this Constitutional matter which is subject to a few court cases attracts many netizens and will affect voting trends. Prohibiting “Allah” by non-Muslims has turned into a polarizing issue and must cease. MCA therefore, calls on the Home Ministry to retract the ban.

MCA therefore reiterates our position on “Allah”, i.e.

1) No confusion arises when one’s spiritual conviction is strong

2) Nobody can copyright “Allah” nor claim monopoly

3) Historical fact that “Allah” predates Islam

Meanwhile, MCA urges the Home Minister to allow the importations of the Al-Kitab and other religious materials as issued in a letter by the then Ministry of Internal Security in 2005, so long as the printed materials contain the words “Christian publication” and carry an image of the “cross (t).”

LOH SENG KOK
Member of MCA Central Committee,
Member of MCA Presidential Council,
Deputy Chairman of MCA Publicity Bureau

'AG, ignorance of the law is no excuse'

Can we call the AG nasty names and accuse him of hideous crimes and then plead ignorance and say "no offense intended"?'

Kit Siang: AG should be censured over Al-Islam decision

Justgreat: If malice was not intended, why were the two in the church at that time? If malice was not intended, they could always have left during communion and not partake in it, only to desecrate the holy communion wafer? If malice was not intended, what was intended then? So can we plead ignorance later if we murder someone?

What a stupid reason from someone who is supposed to be learned in law. It is more like sedition to me, failing to act against perpetrators of a crime against the Christians. Why have Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein been so quiet over this matters. As if torching churches are not enough, now some are resorting to acts of desecration in churches.

I hope that this shows Malaysians of other faiths that the Umno/BN government is not sincere in promoting religious or racial unity but undermining them. What will happen to the cases of the arsonists who torched the churches? Will be another 'No Further Action' case? I hope not for the people's sake.

Abd Samad: Now anyone can go into a place of worship and do whatever and later can say I don't know what I did, so there is no need charge me. What 1Malaysia.

Black Mamba: The country law give the archbishop every right to take legal action against the two journalists. Why wait? The Catholics are too magnanimous. An apology will suffice but are the wrongdoers remorseful?

Singa Pura Pura: Even experienced politicians are falling into the Umno trap. There is 'method' in their apparent injustice. "Springes to catch woodcocks," old Polonius would say. It is all designed to widen the rift between the Muslims and the non-Muslims. To make the Muslims feel threatened by the opposition's expected response to Umno's 'championing' of the Islamic cause.

The harder the DAP 'hentam', the more the Malays that drop into the Umno net. Only the Muslim vote can return Umno to its feudal throne. Umno knows that.

And that is why there is today this overwhelming but artificial atmosphere of fear, bewilderment and besiegement amongst Muslims and Malays, when in actual fact they would have much less to fear under Pakatan Rakyat than they would have under Umno. But who is to say.

Paul Warren: Get real. these guys are making decisions to show themselves to be the true defenders of the faith. Anything that might show the defenders to have fallen on account of an underhanded act should be defended and these fallen should be propped up.

To charge them for an act done in the course of defending the faith should be applauded not censured. Hey, even the worse of the crusaders were hailed as heroes when they got home... and those times have not changed really.

Y Omarmohdnoh: As a Muslim,I would like to see the two journalists charged in court. Why? They finally found that all the allegations (apostasy) were untrue. Instead of going back to their informants, knowingly they had been made bloody fools, they committed foolish acts and published photographs of their undoing.

So I hope the AG could view the issue from this angle and proceed wisely.

Arul Inthirarajah: Is this not the same attorney-general that allegedly attempted to fabricate evidence for the 'Sodomy 1' trial in 1998? We should not then be surprised by the lack of ethics or disrespect for the rule of law by this individual who should have been sacked.

Lin Wen Quan: "Ignorantia Juris Non Excusat" (Ignorance of the law is no excuse.) The Catholic Church has been offended by the journalists out to create mischief in a place of worship. Yes, it is futile to demonstrate because these imbeciles are being protect by Umno likewise the AG. Whatever despicable acts against other races or religions sanctioned by Umno will have a ready defence legal team in the AG's office.

Gibran: The AG is just another stooge of the ruling Umno. No way can the journalist plead ignorance because before the holy communion can be taken, the coordinator for the days service will announce that communion can only be taken by practicing Catholics.

Practicing Catholics are those who attend service regularly and who do their confessions regularly. The behaviour of the two said journalist was blasphemy. There appears to be a conspiracy between the AG and the journalists.

Geronimo: Maybe this should come as a shocker to Umno, AG, Utusan Malaysia and the two reporters. By partaking in the communion and having the host in your mouth, the two reporters are now considered 50 percent Catholics. All they need to do is finalise it with baptism. May God have mercy on their souls.

Pro-Truth & Justice: Can we call the AG nasty names and accuse him of hideous crimes and then plead ignorance and say "no offense intended"?

Article source:
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/125812

Al-Islam apologises

KUALA LUMPUR, March 6 — The Al-Islam magazine has openly apologised to the Roman Catholic Church and Christians for a May 2009 special report, which involved the desecration of a religious rite, saying they had “unintentionally hurt the feelings of Christians especially Catholics”.

The apology posted on the website of its publisher, Utusan Karya, came after Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail said he would not prosecute the reporters as it was “not in interest of justice”, while the Roman Catholic Church said it would be satisfied with an apology.

The controversy began after the magazine published a report,“Tinjauan Al-Islam Dalam Gereja: Mencari Kesahihan Ramaja Melayu Murtad”, in its May 2009 edition that contained pictures of a spat-out communion wafer. Catholics believe that during the Sacrament of the Eucharist, the host is transubstantiated and becomes the body of Christ.

The monthly magazine explained in a three-paragraph statement that the report was to investigate allegations of apostasy and the actions of its journalists were never intended to deride the Christian faith, let alone desecrate their house of worship.

It stated that the two Al-Islam journalists who wrote the article also apologised for unintentionally hurting the feelings of Christians in the pursuit of their duty and hoped the incident would not recur. The magazine also said the apology will be published in its April 2010 edition, available by middle March.

It is understood that the publisher, which is a subsidiary of the Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia, had wanted to issue the apology earlier but it was held up by legal considerations.

AG’s acumen for asinine answers

— Martin Jalleh
MARCH 5 — Attorney General (AG) Abdul Gani Patail want us to believe that he is committed to ensuring that the rule of law is upheld in Bolehland. In his address to members of the Judiciary and the Bar entitled “Opening of the Legal Year 2010”, on 16 Jan., he declared:

“(I)t cannot be over emphasised that the concept of justice is grounded on the basic principles of equality, fairness, and rule of law. The AGC (AG’s Chambers) is committed to promoting the rule of law and ensuring justice be given to all people whatever their race, religion or class.

“AGC in carrying out its duties is well aware of the maxim ‘justice should not only be done, but should manifestly and undoubtedly be seen to be done’, and hence the explanations issued by AGC from time to time on cases handled by it so that the public would not have misconceptions of biasness.”

Such purported profound and passionate zeal for the rule of law by the AG turns into mere political BN propaganda when one applies it to his pathetic excuses for not pressing charges against the two reporters of the Al-Islam magazine who had committed a most sacrilegious act against the Catholic community.

Gani’s Gall

Under guise of being Catholics, they participated in a Mass (church service) at the Church of St Anthony in Puduraya to “investigate” what was going on in Catholic Churches and to verify reports that “Muslim teenagers were being converted to Christianity in Kuala Lumpur’s churches every Sunday”.

They even partook of the Holy Communion strictly meant only for Catholics, which adherents of the faith treat with utmost reverence. They spat out the remnants, photographed it and published the picture in an article entitled “Tinjaun Al Islam Dalam Gereja: Mencari Kesahihan Remaja Murtad” in the May 2009 issue of the magazine.

Their act shocked not only Christians but also Muslims in the country. Even Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin found their action “appalling” and “offensive”. He added that the “Islamic virtues of empathy, respect and tolerance were obviously absent in both the journalists and the magazine’s editorial team”.

Catholics K Sudhagaran Stanley and Joachim Xavier had lodged a police report in July last year against the two reporters. On Aug 27 the Catholic Lawyers Society handed a memorandum to the Home Ministry urging it to take action. There was no response. They must have hoped it would eventually be forgotten.

Finally on Feb 24 this year, about six months after the police report was made, and due to what the Dang Wangi police district headquarters called “overwhelming pressure from the general public”, the police revealed that charges against the two have been dropped.

They were investigated under Section 298A (1) of the Penal Code for causing disharmony, disunity or feelings of enmity, hatred or ill will, or prejudicing the maintenance of harmony or unity, on grounds of religion.

Senior investigating officer ASP Ananthan Rajoo, in a letter to the complainants, stated that the police had received orders from the deputy public prosecutor (DPP), to whom the case was referred, to take no further action (NFA).

Gani’s Hype and Hypocrisy

The overwhelming public reaction not only from Catholics but from countless of other Malaysians and even Muslims is that the AG has failed to uphold the rule of law and that what he had pronounced, proclaimed and preached so piously about was mere pretence!

The AG is at fault for the public perception that there are two sets of laws in this country. Reputed lawyer/blogger Art Harun articulated well his disgust over the decision and called it what it really was: “The blatant double standard. The plain hypocrisy of it all. The stupidity.”

Alas, it would be very easy to imagine the speed with which the police and the AG would have sprung into action if two non-Muslim reporters were to enter a mosque disguised as Muslims, partook of the rituals and desecrated something which the congregation considered very sacred.

Surely Gani would apply the full force of the law without any doubt, delay or deliberation. The penalty would be severe. The all-too-familiar mob would be braying for their blood. Lock them up, lash them or even lynch them? Non-Muslims would be threatened with a looming May 13 or Feb 13!

The Malaysian Insider (TMI) captured well the contempt for the AG’s decision: “In the eyes of the Catholic Church, the desecration of the communion is an act even worse than the recent firebombing of places of worship.”

“Never before has the exhibition of double standards been so obvious ... The irony is this message of hypocrisy comes at a time when the Najib administration is asking for support from non-Muslims.”

In a press conference yesterday Kuala Lumpur Archbishop Murphy Pakiam asked the AG for the rationale behind his decision: “I appeal to the Attorney General to explain the decision not to take further action on the Al-Islam journalists’ case.”

Pakiam pointed out his fear that “the decision not to prosecute appears to legitimise the actions of the Al-Islam journalists”. He added he believed that the Catholic community will be “satisfied” if the journalists and publisher apologise.

Gani’s Gobbledegook

In a faxed response to the press, Gani had the gall to say: “The actions of the two reporters may have hurt the feelings of the people but I was satisfied that they did not intend to offend anyone. It was an act of sheer ignorance… the two journalists did not cause any disturbance when they went undercover…”

The Attorney General of Malaysia who turned psychologist and mind-reader has offered all future potential violators of religious harmony and unity the excuses needed to escape from and evade the rule of law. Just appear real stupid and do all the harm you want undercover so that it won’t disturb anybody, and leave the rest to me!

(Whatever their intentions, they had violated Section 298A (1) of the Penal Code for causing disharmony, disunity or feelings of enmity, hatred or ill will, or prejudicing the maintenance of harmony or unity, on grounds of religion.)

Gani went on probably hoping that the public would be as gullible as he expects of them: “Therefore, in view of the circumstances at that particular time and in the interest of justice, peace and harmony, I decided not to press any charges against them.”

Whose “interest”? Whose “justice”? Umno’s brand of justice? How would peace and harmony be disturbed if charges were pressed against the reporters? It appears there is really no rule of law in this country but the mob rules – even in the discerning and decision making process of the Attorney General!

Gani tried very hard to convince himself: “I have previously decided similarly in other cases where the circumstances were quite similar involving other religions, under those circumstances taking serious action would not be in the interest of justice at that particular time.”

TMI again “hit the nail on the AG’s head” when it commented: “Simply put, this man by his statement has shown himself to be incapable of protecting the interest of Christians and non-Muslims in the country.”

“One can only wonder what justice is for the AG, for his actions in the Al-Islam case show he is ‘not in the interest of justice’ in any time or situation.”

TMI also described Gani’s statement as “outrageous at the very least as he was offering protection to a group of people who have not had the decency to apologise for their actions” and that the AG was “condoning vigilantism”.

God is watching, Gani!

Khairy accepted and defended the AG’s decision, for “the decision may have been reached to ‘balance out’ the tensions caused by the issue revolving the use of the word ‘Allah’”. Six months ago, he had called the act “unacceptable”! The poor Umno Youth leader must be suffering from an unbalanced mind.

Only politicians feel they have to resort to playing the balancing act. The AG is not a politician and he should not play politics. All he should be concerned about is that the scales of justice are balanced and that there should be fairness to all.

The sheer ignorance “plea” concocted by the AG on behalf of the two reporters is really an insult to the intelligence of the public. This is reinforced by the fact that the magazine which they are working for, Al-Islam, is a monthly magazine published by Utusan Karya Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Utusan Group (which is owned by Umno) and which publishes the Utusan Malaysia (UM).

In recent years, the UM has been allowed to go on a spree of spinning falsehood, spouting lies, spewing seditious articles and spreading Umno’s unprecedented racist and religious propaganda with impunity – and immunity granted by the Umno Home Minister. It is very obvious where the reporters of Al-Islam got their audacity from in committing their sacrilegious act!

Khairy was wrong when he said last year that the two journalists failed to consider “the gravity of their own actions”. Gani was wrong when he said they were “sheer “ignorant”. The reporters were right when they knew full well what they were doing and that they could do what they liked, for there would be no consequences – and the AG has confirmed it!

In his maiden speech unveiling 1 Malaysia, People First Performance Now, the Prime Minister said: “We must reach out to the many who may have been disaffected and left confused by political games, deceit and showmanship”.

It is time you stop your games, Gani! God is watching, Gani!

It is wishful thinking (and I hope I will be proven wrong) to expect Al-Islam to apologise, after all, the people behind it come from a superior race, have a religion they believe is superior to all else and are protected by Executive Supremacy! May Allah (oops, I can’t use this word), may God have mercy on our beloved country!

Article source:
* Martin Jalleh reads The Malaysian Insider.
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/opinion/breaking-views/55345-ags-acumen-for-asinine-answers--martin-jalleh-

Charging Al-Islam reporters ‘not in interest of justice’, says A-G

KUALA LUMPUR: Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail has decided not to press charges against the two reporters who wrote an article about the church and Islam in a magazine.

He said taking stern action would not be in the interest of justice, peace and harmony at this particular time. “I have previously decided similarly in other cases where the circumstances were quite similar involving other religions, under those circumstances taking serious action would not be in the interest of justice at that particular time,” he said in a statement here today.

He said a police report was lodged in respect of an article published in Majalah Al-Islam entitled “Tinjauan Al-Islam Dalam Gereja:Mencari Kesahihan Remaja Melayu Murtad” in its May 2009 issue.

“The police commenced investigation and submitted the investigation papers to my Chambers,” he said.

Abdul Gani said the investigation revealed that the two reporters went into the Church of St Anthony at Puduraya to verify allegations that Muslims were converted into Christianity and the use of the word “Allah”.

“Their observations showed that such allegations were not true. In the church, they were given the white bread by the pastor which they subsequently brought back to their office.

“It was further disclosed that they did not know the significance of the white bread. No disturbance was caused in the church. In fact, no one in the church was aware that they were Malays,” he said.

Abdul Gani said the actions of the two reporters might have hurt the feelings of the people but he was satisfied that they did not intend to offend anyone and it was an act of sheer ignorance.

Article source:
http://www.heraldmalaysia.com/news/storydetails.php/Charging-Al-Islam-reporters-‘not-in-interest-of-justice’,-says-A-G/4302-1-1

The AG is ‘not in the interest of justice’ — The Malaysian Insider

MARCH 5 — Is it any wonder why Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail can’t walk the talk about justice in the country?

He put his foot in the mouth again last night when justifying that charging the Al-Islam magazine editors and reporters who offended Catholics in an article would have been “not in the interest of justice”.

His statement was outrageous at the very least as he was offering protection to a group of people who have not had the decency to apologise for their actions.

And Gani was condoning vigilantism as the reporters had participated in a Catholic rite while investigating an allegation that Muslims were being converted.

State news agency Bernama quoted Gani as saying the actions of the two reporters might have hurt the feelings of the people but he was satisfied that they did not intend to offend anyone and it was an act of sheer ignorance.

“It was further disclosed that they did not know the significance of the white bread. No disturbance was caused in the church. In fact, no one in the church was aware that they were Malays,” he had said.

Fact is, Gani treated the desecration of the host (not simply white bread as he stated) as a flippant act. It is a rite holy to the Catholics and not just a treat at the end of prayers.

He justified his action by citing previous decisions based on the situations in that particular time and not just on law.

“I have previously decided similarly in other cases where the circumstances were quite similar involving other religions, under those circumstances taking serious action would not be in the interest of justice at that particular time,” Gani stressed.

Simply put, this man by his statement has shown himself to be incapable of protecting the interest of Christians and non-Muslims in the country.

One has to look no further than across the Causeway where bloggers who insulted Islam were sanctioned and a pastor who ridiculed Buddhism and Taoism was warned by Singapore’s Internal Security Dept and forced to apologise.

In Malaysia, the AG has the cheek to turn the other cheek and let people who insult a religion get away with it because in his mind, it is “not in the interest of justice”.

One can only wonder what justice is for the AG, for his actions in the Al-Islam case show he is “not in the interest of justice” in any time or situation.

Church: No action and no apology

AG should explain why journalists were not prosecuted: Pakiam


KUALA LUMPUR (March 4, 2010): The Attorney-General should explain why he decided not to prosecute two Al-Islam reporters for desecrating a Catholic rite, said Kuala Lumpur Archbishop Tan Sri Murphy Pakiam.

Tan Sri Murphy Pakiam

"I appeal to the Attorney-General to explain the decision not to take further action in the Al-Islam journalists' case. An explanation should be given to the complainants and clarification to the church authorities," said Pakiam, who referred to the incident last year.

"It appears the instructions of no further action implies and conveys the message that no crime has been committed, despite an admission by the journalist that they had desecrated the Holy Communion. There are sufficient provisions in the Penal Code for this purpose," he added.

Pakiam said the Catholic Lawyers Society, Kuala Lumpur had sent a memorandum to the Home Minister on Aug 27 last year on the matter but no action had been taken since.

However he said that at present, the church will not take further action on the matter.

"We have to wait and see, and take it step by step to see what has to be done. A civil suit is one line of action, but there is also dialogue with the authorities, to rely on their goodwill to understand the feelings of our community," said Pakiam.

"There is also the human approach, to bring the feelings of our community to the attention of the public," he added.

In May 2009, two reporters, including a Muhd Ridwan Abdul Jalil @ Erwanz from the Malay-language magazine Al-Islam wrote an article on their attempts to investigate a rumour that Malay youths were converting to Catholicism.

Though their report states that the allegations were untrue, the two had taken the Holy Communion wafer given to them and then spat it out and photographed it.

This prompted a police report by a Catholic, KS Sudhagaran Stanley against the two under Section 298A (1) of the Penal Code for causing disharmony, disunity or feelings of enmity, hatred or ill will, or prejudicing the maintenance of harmony or unity, on grounds of religion.

If found guilty, an offender can be sentenced to jail for a period between two and five years.

This report was subsequently dismissed by the A-G's Chambers as requiring "no further action", and the announcement was made through the Dang Wangi police station on Feb 25.

In a statement, Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail said the reporters had acted through "sheer ignorance".

He said the police investigation had revealed that they had gone to St Anthony's Church at Puduraya to verify allegations that Muslims were being converted into Christianity and the use of the word "Allah". Their observations showed that such allegations were not true.

He said the reporters were given the Communion "which they subsequently brought back to their office".

"It was further disclosed that they did not know the significance of the (Communion)," he said. "No disturbance was caused in the church. In fact, no one in the church was aware that they were Malays.

"The actions of the two reporters may have hurt the feelings of the people but I was satisfied that they did not intend to offend anyone. It was an act of sheer ignorance.

"Therefore, in view of the circumstances at that particular time and in the interest of justice, peace and harmony, I decided not to press any charges against them."

Gani said he had previously decided similarly in other cases where the circumstances were quite similar involving other religions. Under those circumstances, taking a serious action would not be in the interest of justice at that particular time.

Article source: Herald Malaysia Online

Open letter to Najib on Al-Islam!

TO:-

Y.A.B. DATO' SRI MOHD. NAJIB BIN TUN HAJI ABDUL RAZAK
PRIME MINISTER,
Prime Minister's Office,
Main Block, Perdana Putra Building,
Federal Government Administrative Centre,
62502 PUTRAJAYA.

C:C

Y.A.B. TAN SRI DATO' HAJI MUHYIDDIN BIN MOHD. YASSIN
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER,
Deputy Prime Minister's Office,
Level 4 West Block, Perdana Putra Building,
Federal Government Administrative Centre,
62502 Putrajaya, MALAYSIA



Y.B. SENATOR TAN SRI DR. KOH TSU KOON
MINISTER IN THE PRIME MINISTER'S DEPARTMENT
Minister in The Prime Minister's Department,
Perdana Putra Building,
Federal Government Administrative Centre,
62502 PUTRAJAYA.



Y.B. DATO' SERI HISHAMMUDDIN BIN TUN HUSSEIN
MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS
Ministry of Home Affairs,
Level 12, Block D1, Parcel D,
Federal Government Administrative Centre,
62502, PUTRAJAYA.



Tan Sri Musa Bin Tan Sri Hj. Hassan

Ketua Polis Negara

Ibu Pejabat Polis Diraja Malaysia
Bukit Aman
50560 Kuala Lumpur.



&nb sp; 20th January 2010

Ref: Al-Islam Journalist yet to be Charged in Court

Police Report No : Dato Keramat/003607/09

Date of Report: 08/07/2009

Police Station: Jalan Patani/ Timur Laut

Dear Prime Minister,

In regards to the matter above, We are deeply concerned on your administration because till today, the two journalist from the Al-Islam Magazine whom entered the Catholic Church, to spy on our rituals, received the Holy Communion and then later spat it out to be photographed for publication purposes in their magazine, is yet to be charged in court despite solid evidence the police has gained.

The Holy Communion, which is made of a white wafer, is the most sacred for Catholics. It is believed by us Catholics that, it is the body of Our Lord Jesus Christ after going through the transformation or the liturgy of the Eucharist. Catholics receives this Communion in order for their sins to be forgiven, and to be in union with God. Catholic have to go through a 1 year formation to understand the meaning of the Communion, there after received a confirmation from the Bishop, whom is the head of the Church, before being allowed to received the Holy Communion. Those whom have not received the confirmation, are strictly not allowed to receive the body of Christ. This journalist had entered our Church and humiliated the most sacred part of our worship, and even published that barbaric act in their Al-Islam Magazine, which is under the Utusan Group of Companies.

Till today, no charges has been pressed against the culprits and this is sending a wrong signal out to Malaysians. It says, it is ok to enter places of worship and spy and humiliate their worship. This message will create lots of distress and disharmony on ground of religion in our country. It is because that there was no action taken at the very beginning itself, today there are people in Malaysia whom are brave to bomb churches down. If it is true your administration is practising the 1 Malaysia Concept, why has there been no action taken till today?

It all started off with a protest in the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes in Silibin Ipoh, by a group of people acting on a false SMS stating that we were converting Muslims to Christianity, and the government has been not successful in bringing those responsible, to justice. Later on, our church was spied, our worship was humiliated, and still no action taken against the culprits. Today our Churches are being bombed, vandalised with stones and paint and yet still no one is charged in court. I am very suspicious on your administration for not taking any action against those responsible for the 3 different incidents. Is your government against Christians in this Country? What are the police still waiting for? Are they waiting for someone to be killed? More religious disharmony will occur in our country if those responsible, are not brought to justice.

We demand an immediate response on the Al-Islam issue and for the journalist to be charged in court as soon as possible under the Penal Code Section 295 or 298a ( Causing Disharmony, disunity or feeling of enmity, hatred or ill-will, or prejudicing etc., the maintenance of harmony or unity , on grounds of religion). The nation had loosed their trust in the Police Force and the Judiciary system. Bringing those journalists to the stand of Justice will bring back some trust on your administration that has long ago been lost. Self and written admittance in the Al-Islam Magazine itself is a solid proof for the journalist to be charged. We hope you would truly practise the 1 Malaysia Concept and stop all kinds of disharmony on grounds of religion in this country.

Thank you and hope to hear from you soon,

From,

K.Sudhagaran Stanley,

Human Rights Activist
Article source:-
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=263677339470

Muslim use of “Allah” not original

Dear Editor,

Regarding the “Allah” controversy, it may be of use to consider these facts: At the time of Jesus the lingua franca was Aramaic. The word in Aramaic for “God” was “Ellah.” “Allah” is merely a derivation of “Ellah”.

In Mediterranean Arabic-speaking countries they still pronounce the word, spelt “Allah” in English, as “Ellah.” “Ellah” was derived from the more ancient Eastern Mediterranean use of the word “El” for “God” as is found in many personal and place names of that time and place, such as “Beth-el” or Nathani-el, Micha-el, Samu-el, etc.

The case can therefore be made that the Muslim use of the word spelt in English as “Allah” is really an adoption from the Aramaic “Ellah,” common to all local peoples at the time, and that the specific root that refers to God is “El.” They may then realize that the Muslim use of “Allah” is not original with or a derivation unique to them.

Steve Summers
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Article source:
http://www.heraldmalaysia.com/news/storydetails.php/Muslim-use-of-“Allah”-not-original/4035-11-1

We must never allow the mob to rule

People calling for a ban on the use of ‘Allah’ by non-Muslims must find their justification in the Quran or in legal enactments.


A COUPLE of churches were burnt by people who believe that non-Muslims should not use the name Allah when describing God. A very strange motivation indeed when we look at the scripture.

In Surah 22 Verse 40 of the Quran, it is said: “Had not Allah checked one set of people by means of another, there would surely have been pulled down monasteries, churches, synagogues, and mosques, in which the name of Allah is commemorated in abundant measure.”

Looks pretty clear to me. There is no scriptural justification to stop non-Muslims from using Allah to describe God. In fact the opposite is true, the name Allah is praised in “monasteries, churches, synagogues, and mos-ques”.

This is not my assertion, this is a quote from the Holy Quran, and there are more in the same vein.

Right, so all these people calling for the ban surely must find their justification elsewhere. There is the law, it is said. In particular, state enactments banning the use of Allah by non-Muslims. We must obey the law they assert.

All right, let’s look at the state laws then. Space prevents me from going through each enactment, so let’s just look at the Selangor enactment of 1988.

In the preamble it says: “[This is] An enactment to control and restrict the propagation of non-Islamic religious doctrines and beliefs among persons professing the religion of Islam.

“Whereas Article 11(4) of the Federal Constitution provides that State law may control or restrict the propagation of any religious doctrine or belief among persons professing the religion, and whereas it is now desired to make a law to control and restrict the propagation of non-Islamic religious doctrine and beliefs among persons professing the religion of Islam, therefore pursuant to Article 11(4) of the Federal Constitution it is hereby enacted by the Legislature of the State of Selangor.”

And if we look into the Enactment, we do see a section which lists down words that can’t be used by non-Muslims (it includes Allah). However, the explanatory note to this section states that to do so is “an offence of distributing in a public place publications concerning non-Islamic religions to Mus-lims”.

Again, this looks very clear, the law was designed to prevent proselytising to Muslims. And the ban on the use of the name Allah by the state law is in the context of proselytising.

If used within the context of their own worship and their own religious community, this law does not apply.

And if we look at Article 11 of the Federal Constitution, the only specific limitation on the freedom of religion is that the proselytising to Muslims (even Muslim to Muslim proselytising) can be controlled.

Other than that everyone is free to practice his or her religion in peace. It is unconstitutional to stop anyone from using the word Allah in their worship if they so choose.

So, the Quran says there’s no problem with peoples of other faiths using “Allah”, the state enactments are limited in their scope, and the Constitution says that everyone can practice their religion peacefully. What other justification can be used to try to ban this word?

There are two more; firstly it is culturally unacceptable among the Malays in peninsular Malaysia to hear the name Allah on non-Muslim lips. Oh yes, this is a great argument.

It reminds me of similar arguments used in the past. For example, “it is culturally unacceptable to allow negro children to go to the same schools as white children”. Look, just because some people are bigoted does not mean we have to pander to them.

Secondly, there is also the argument that if Muslims see Allah being used by non-Muslims they will get awfully confused and in their simple-mindedness, they will become Christians. People who make this argument can’t have very high regard for Malay intelligence. Rather insulting, I think.

At the end of the day there is no scriptural or legal reason to ban the use of Allah by non-Muslims, and if the powers that be have an iota of principle in their collective bones, they would stand on principle and not cater to the small minded and ignorant.

Instead they try to be pragmatic, leading to ludicrous statements like “it’s all right to use Allah in Sabah and Sarawak but not in the peninsula”.

The Muslim community, particularly the leadership, must ask itself: Is the way Islam is taught in this country so weak that Muslims can get easily confused by just one word?

I do not believe there is any evidence of large scale conversions by Muslims to Christianity. It is illegal for Christians to try to convert Muslims anyway.

However, if this sort of unintelligent and vicious behaviour goes on, I can’t imagine a greater disservice to Islam.

The Catholic church must not back down on this matter. It is in the right and if it gives in now, it will set the precedence that a bunch of thugs with firebombs can dictate the type of country we live in.

For the good of the country as a whole, not just any specific religious or ethnic group, we must never allow the mob to rule.

By AZMI SHAROM
Article source:
http://www.malaysianbar.org.my/legal/general_news/we_must_never_allow_the_mob_to_rule.html
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/1/21/focus/5502309&sec=focus