YOURSAY ‘What do you expect from Najib - the chief fabricator from Umno?’
 
Najib: 'Allah' ban stands in states with such laws

David Dass: What is this? We expected much more from PM Najib Razak. This vacillation and about-turns have encouraged irresponsible politicians to say things that are patently untrue.
 
Peninsular Malaysian Christians are really not accustomed to using the term 'Allah' in their prayers. So it is not really an issue for us except we are puzzled when all talk of a single universal God and yet are not prepared to acknowledge that all of us, whatever our religion, can only pray to the only God who exists.
 
Okay, there are differences in ritual and sometimes in the way we symbolise God and perhaps in the attributes we give him. But God is God. We cannot make him or unmake him.
 
We should not arrogate to ourselves the ability to understand him in all his aspects. It is enough that we acknowledge as the creator and that he is loving and forgiving. And that we must account to him for our thoughts and actions and omissions.
 
The East Malaysians were using the Indonesian Bible long before they became part of Malaysia. Bahasa Malaysia is their language. They are now present in Peninsular Malaysia in large numbers. And churches minister to them and conduct services in their language using the Indonesian Bible.
 
So what is the issue? These services are conducted in Christian churches not in mosques. The government should take a firm line. Rulers rule in accordance with the law and the constitution.
 
Non-Muslims cannot be subject to Muslim law. There should be no interference with the way non-Muslims worship. We agreed a federal constitution. That is the supreme law. It is not subject to shariah law.
 
It is not true as some say that the Christians are becoming aggressive and unreasonable in asking for something new. The issue is not new. Christians in Sabah and Sarawak have been using the Alkitab and the term ‘Allah’ for more than a century.
 
They came into Malaysia on the express understanding that their peculiar situation was recognised. And it was, in the 19- and 20-point agreements that were the basis on which they came into the federation.
 
The only thing new about the situation is the large number of East Malaysians living and working in Peninsular Malaysia. They attend church services. And the churches provide services in Bahasa Malaysia using the Alkitab.

The Bahasa Malaysia section in The Herald simply reflected that same reality. How can this be an issue? All this is 'much ado about nothing'.
 
This is not an attempt to claim the Muslim God as the Christian God. This is not to confuse the Muslims and thereby convert them. The Christians believe that there is only one God (despite the trinity).
 
And why are we taking such an extraordinary position? Indonesia is 90 percent Muslim and it is not an issue with them. The term ‘Allah’ was used as a reference to God long before Islam came into being. Christians in Arab countries use the term ‘Allah’.
 
In fact, we seem to be the only country in the world making a fuss over this issue. Why? Why do we talk about us being of the Abrahamic faith? In what way are we of the same root if not by the fact that we worship the one and only God.
 
Not Confused: I just cannot fathom how this gutless PM can stand up and make statements that make zero sense to anyone.
 
To ban a religious book because of its contents is bad enough, but to make it illegal to carry such a book from one part of the county to another is too crazy for words.
 
To try to make certain words and phrases illegal for one third of the population to use is absolutely mind-boggling. To seriously believe that this situation can work at a practical level is even more crazy.
 
Why all this? So that the poor Muslims who obviously have little in the way of brain cells don't become confused!
 
The other religions here are exposed to Islam and its words and phrases ad nauseum on TV and other media outlets, and I am certain this has not confused any other religion or caused anyone to convert as a result.
 
Can this issue become any more ridiculous and embarrassing than what the BN government has created for itself?
 
Kangkung: What do you expect from Najib - the chief fabricator from Umno? Najib created this 10-point agreement with the full intention of winning votes.
 
The Allah issue will never be solved as it is a weapon Umno can use again and again whenever threatened by the opposition.
 
wg321: So it looks like Minister in the PM’s Department Idris Jala will commit a statutory offence if he were to possess a Malay Bible which contains the word ‘Allah’ in Peninsular Malaysia.
 
This is because Point 5 and Point 6 of the 10-point solution are not valid in Peninsular Malaysia but the same Malay Bible (with the same Allah in it) is perfectly legal in East Malaysia if Idris was to fly from Kuala Lumpur to Kuching holding the said Malay Bible in his hand.
 
Point 2 is now also not valid because the printing and distribution of the Malay Bible is a statutory offence in Peninsular Malaysia but it is okay in Sabah and Sarawak.
 
And under Point 1, while the Malay Bible is banned from being imported to Peninsular Malaysia, it is perfectly legal to import Malay bibles directly from Indonesia to East Malaysia.
 
The Bible Society of Malaysia is clearly helpless in Selangor. Indeed, Najib is practising ‘One country, two systems’.


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