To Continue Publishing, Malaysian Catholic Weekly Told Not To Use Word ‘Allah’
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: A Catholic weekly newspaper in Malaysia has been told to drop the use of the word “Allah” in its Malay language section if it wants to renew its publishing permit, a senior government official said Friday.
The Herald, the organ of Malaysia’s Catholic Church, has translated the word God as “Allah” but it is erroneous because Allah refers to the Muslim God, said Che Din Yusoff, a senior official at the Internal Security Ministry’s publications control unit.
“Christians cannot use the word Allah. It is only applicable to Muslims. Allah is only for the Muslim god. This is a design to confuse the Muslim people,” Che Din told The Associated Press.
The weekly should instead, use the word “Tuhan” which is the general term for God, he said.
Religious issues are extremely sensitive in Malaysia, where about 60 percent of the 27 million people are Malay Muslims. Ethnic Chinese, who follow Christianity and Buddhism, account for 25 percent of the population. Indians, who are mostly Hindus with a sprinkling of Christians and Muslims, are around 10 percent.
The minorities have often complained that they don’t have full freedom of religion even though the constitution guarantees everybody the right to worship. The minorities cite the difficulty in obtaining permission to build their places of worship, and the Hindus have been particularly angered by the demolition of temples by government authorities in recent months.
The Rev. Lawrence Andrew, editor of the Herald, said the weekly’s use of the word Allah was not intended to offend Muslims.
“We follow the Bible. The Malay-language Bible uses Allah for God and Tuhan for Lord. In our prayers and in church during Malay mass, we use the word Allah,” he told the AP.
“This is not something new. The word Allah has been used in Malaysia for a long time. There is no confusion,” he said.
The 13-year-old weekly is still in talks with the authorities to renew its permit, which expires Dec. 31, he said, adding that they would appeal if the government refuses to budge on the issue.
Publishers in Malaysia are required to obtain annual permits from authorities under a printing law that has long been criticized by rights groups as infringing press freedoms.
There are more than 800,000 Catholics in Malaysia, Andrew said.
Che Din said Christians don’t use the word Allah when they worship in English, so they shouldn’t use it in the Malay language too.
There are four Malay words that must not be used by other religions, he said: Allah for God, “solat” for prayers, “kaabah” for the place of Muslim worship in Mecca and “baitula” the house of Allah.
The Herald’s permit will only be renewed if they stop using Allah in their publication, he stressed.
(AP)
Be respectful of others and their opinions. Inflammatory remarks and inane leftist drivel will be deleted. It ain’t about free speech, remember you’re in a private domain. My website, my prerogative.
If you can't handle using your real email address, don't bother posting a comment.
Okay … How about these two words:
Bite Me
December 21st, 2007 at 3:45 pmTrinity of evil? You mean the Koran, the Sira and the Hadith? I thought so.
Ditto on the bite me comment.
December 21st, 2007 at 3:55 pmHumm - Well now. Im sorry you feel that way (“Christians cannot use the word Allah. It is only applicable to Muslims. Allah is only for the Muslim god. This is a design to confuse the Muslim people,” Che Din told The Associated Press)
Now since I know for a fact now, that we do not share the same God, here ya go. Merry Christmas!!
http://www.trocciola.com/allah_sucks.jpg
December 21st, 2007 at 7:07 pmLooks like the brakes just went on the Muslim Stupidmobile.
December 21st, 2007 at 7:50 pmAllah Allah Allah… I could go on forever. I’m a real ass when it comes to offending certain people. Go fuck yourselves up the ass, muzzies.
December 21st, 2007 at 11:35 pmPeople, we need to be celebrating!! If I had a dime for every time I’ve heard a taqiyyah-spewing jihadi who tried to suck up to the gullible obervers by saying, “Oh, ‘Allah’ is just Arabic for God! We all worship the same God!”–I’d be rich!
NOW IT’S OFFICIAL–OH, NO, WE DON’T!
Thanks, you filthy malaysian govt pigs!
December 22nd, 2007 at 9:04 amThe religion of peace sure gets offended and angered easily… meanwhile they destroy hindu temples…At some point all the muslims will have to fight because they can’t keep their retards in check. Now why does that simpleton have a tablecloth wrapped around his head?
His sign should say he’s with stupid.
December 22nd, 2007 at 10:13 amWe’ll stop mentioning allah if you stop mentioning Jesus.
December 23rd, 2007 at 10:45 pm