Putrajaya, Jan 4 : Malaysia's Cabinet has decided that weekly publication, The Herald, is not allowed to use the word "Allah" in its publications.
The restrictions on the use of the word "Allah" was still enforceable and shall be upheld as decided by the Cabinet in two of its meetings - on October 18 and November 1, 2006, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Abdullah Mohd Zin said.
Abdullah said that the Prime Minister had instructed him to clarify the matter so that the public would not be confused.
"One of the reasons given to uphold the restriction is because that it has long been the practice of this country that the world Allah refers to God according to the Muslim faith," he said.
It was only proper for other religions to use the word "God" and not "Allah" when referring to their God in respective beliefs, Abdullah said.
The use of the word "Allah" shall not be made a public debate that may give the impression as if there is no freedom of religion in the country, he added.
The use of the word 'Allah' by non-Muslims may arouse sensitivity and create confusion among Muslims in the country," he said.
On December 31, the publication's editor Father Lawrence Andrew said the weekly was allowed to continue printing its Bahasa Malaysia section with no restriction on the use of the word "Allah" for God.
He said a representative from the Internal Security Ministry delivered a letter dated December 28 with the permit to print the newspaper and that according to him, the letter did not place any restrictions whatsoever.
The newspaper carries reports in English, Bahasa Malaysia, Tamil and Chinese, about the Catholic community. It has a circulation of 12,000.
The ministry had earlier issued directives to the publisher to cease the use of the word "Allah" in the weekly, failing which its permit would either be suspended or revoked.
| By be fair, 05-06-08, 02:15 AM |
Why not all version?Why use Allah only in the bahasa version of herald? why not in all languages version? I bet the english version reader will feel differently if Herald do this. only then you can quash the conspiracy theory. |
| By jepalau, 01-04-08, 04:21 PM |
Malaysia says Herald not allowed to use 'Allah' in its publicationsGive it a break la. Allah just tells one what the paper is talking about. To be fair than Muslims should quit using the word God. Whats good for the Rooster should be good for the Hen. Malaysia is showing its true colors. |
| By Disappointed Malaysian, 01-04-08, 06:26 PM |
I don't get itI don’t see how the use of the word “Allah” on non-Muslim publications can cause confusion among Muslims. I’m sure Muslims are a lot smarter than that. Let it go and let the usage continue. If Malaysia really wants to be taken seriously, it needs to stop this ridiculous pettiness and delusions of religious superiority. |
| By halla, 01-04-08, 06:27 PM |
government's inconsistencyThe cabinet does not seem to be aware of what the Internal security Ministry is doing as they have different government policy though we live in the same Malaysia land.I am disillusioned of the present leadership which is inward looking, disorietated and suffers from low self image and immaturity. |
| By Anonymous, 01-04-08, 11:56 PM |
religious intoleranceWe should thank the current leadership for showing Malaysians their true colours and remove any doubt about their agenda. |
| By angel, 01-05-08, 08:08 AM |
unfairWhy now? Christians use Allah for more than 50 years and there are no problems? Come on Malaysian...don’t b fools n confused...b opened minded man! |
| By Shoe_Tight, 01-05-08, 08:14 AM |
We all should get it.This matter should not even be an issue at all.Everyone knows the word Allah is an arabic word and has been used to refer to the God in Islam since forever.It is only confusing when some people want to use that particular word in their publications like they are testing the sensitivity of certain group in this mulitiracial country.And that is completely ignorant.It is as same as telling a singh is a muslim just because he wears a turban. |
| By Anonymous, 01-05-08, 08:25 AM |
| Christians conspiracy is clear.they want to create conflicts more in different places and its their agenda to send their missionaries to the remote area of diffrent countries to confused illiterate people and to convert them in Christianity.they will do the same thing when they will go to India and will call their God as Rama to confuse and convert Hindu people.i dont have any idea but does Bible says “Allah”? |
| By Anonymous, 01-05-08, 08:40 AM |
| Where can you in the original bible that Allah is god? If you can proof it that you may use it...no problem at all. But the real thing is that the Christians are trying to confuse the moslem... |
| By Anonymous, 01-05-08, 09:02 AM |
| look at the tricks.they allowed to buid a Mosque in Vatican and when Saudi leader visited Vatican,they demanded to allow them to build Church in Jeddah and they show that logic.this is a dirty game by the Christians to convert other religion people abusing their poverty,weakness.this is not practice of religion,this is simply other face of terrorism. |
| By fair enough, 01-05-08, 11:12 AM |
i agree!Allah refers to the moslem community of their believes in god. there shoud be no conspiration about that. people of non-muslim in malaysia or even the whole world should be respect of this issue and not to take it very easy and saying that it’s a symbol of the true colors of malaysia, what the hack is that!?. it is a very sensitive issue to talk about and what pak lah’s action is right. |
| By Malasyu, 01-05-08, 06:09 PM |
Confusion over AllahThere appears to be a lot of confusion over the word ' Allah'. Some say that the word Allah has been used by the Jewish and Christian faiths since pre-Islamic times and that the Quran continued with this trend. However some say that the word Allah derives from Allat - a moon-godess in Arabia at the dawn of Islam hence all the images of the moon in Islam.
What a lot of confusion.
A rose by any other name is still a rose but my rose is better than my rose!!
I suggest that the Malaysian Govt registers the word Allah like a
trade-mark to prevent its usage by others.
|
| By angel, 01-06-08, 03:19 PM |
very sadJesus Christ never teached Christian to do bad things,we can see this in the Golden Rule. Christian never trying to confuse anybody,Christ is the strong foundation for us.For GOD all people are same and nobody can claim that only they have a right to call HIM 'ALLAH'.If this happen that mean that the God is selective and this is not the real ALMIGHTY GOD. |
| By karman, 01-24-08, 12:50 PM |
truth is out: muslim god is not the jewish/christian GodFinally, from the mouth of Islamic leaders: Allah the name of one of the deities worshipped for centuries in the Kaaba is not the God of the Jews and Christians. They should also add that the Jesus of the Koran is not the same Jesus of the Bible because unlike the Jesus of the Koran, Jesus did die on the cross and did resurrect. Muslim leaders in Malaysia are just trying to be clever in trying to ban Christian literature that deal with Islamic issues, Islam cannot stand criticism... a deceitful religion that fears the truth. Hopefully Muslims will realize that Allah is not the God of Abraham and hopefully turn to the true God of the Bible and to Jesus who makes Him known (John 14:6,7). |
| By beyond, 06-27-08, 02:59 AM |
hallucination??I think Malaysian leaders are becoming more confuse everyday. they are keep talking about unity but at the same time each words coming out from their mouth giving different impressions. this is absolutely ridiculous. Malaysia indeed is very unique in the world. so are you going to copyright the word 'Allah' only in Malaysia or the whole world? i couldnt stop wondering what would happenned if the other religions banning you to use the word 'God'. as long as i could remember, though many religions claimed they worshipped 'God', i am very sure, they are not talking about the same 'Allah' or 'God'. It simply reffering to something higher than the universe and the descriptions go on. if we do indeed talking about the same 'God' or 'Allah' then i am sure we only have one religion in this world. come on, you talking about respecting others and on and on.. but what you doing is the other way around. Im sure the muslims are smart enough to differentiate their 'Allah' from the Christians' 'Allah'. If indeed this simple word make you confuse about your 'Allah' then maybe you dont really know your 'Allah'. if you fear that this word used by other religion would convert you to other religion then maybe you should start asking how firm is your faith on your 'Allah' that even this simple understanding can shaken your faith. Think deeper!! know your 'Allah' better so that even among the many 'Allah' you could still recognize your real faith. |
| By beyond, 06-27-08, 03:05 AM |
The word Allah in the bibleand I forgot to add, yes, the word 'Allah' is used in the B.Melayu Bible. I hope you wont start banning the Bible also. |
| By beyond, 06-27-08, 03:11 AM |
ALLAH Vs GOD?quoted<
Abdullah said that the Prime Minister had instructed him to clarify the matter so that the public would not be confused.
“One of the reasons given to uphold the restriction is because that it has long been the practice of this country that the world Allah refers to God according to the Muslim faith," he said. >
If you know your God, though it translated in many languages, you could still differentiate which is which. if this even simple understanding could confuse you, then maybe the most important question you should ask is " HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW YOUR 'GOD' OR 'ALLAH'?.
It’s been also practices that no one ever in the world had restricted the word 'GOD' or 'ALLAH' to any religions in the whole world before. why now? losing confidence on your own faith?
I see this as a great weakness on understanding of your own faith. |
| By liberal, 04-28-08, 04:31 PM |
We Believe in One GodJesus and his disciples spoke the Armenian language during that period of time. Allah being translated from Armenian to English means God.
I do hope the truth will prevail soon. |
| By liberal, 04-28-08, 04:47 PM |
What conspiracy?It isn’t easy to become a Catholic. After attending classes for at least 10 months or so than only conversion takes place during Easter Sunday. Even than no force is put upon the new converts. I have friends who convert very easily to Islam because of marriage and when they choose to come out it isn’t so simple. So what conspiracy is this all about. |
