In his speech at the Christmas high-tea organised by the Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM), the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi made a stirring call to moderates to lead the fight against fanatics or extremism will prevail.
He said: “If the moderates do not speak up, they will allow the extremists to occupy centre stage. And then, extremism will be seen as the religious or national approach in our country.”
However, from the continued ban on the use of “Allah” for non-Muslims and the stop-work on the world’s tallest Mazu statue in Kudat, Malaysians are entitled to ask: Where are the moderates in Cabinet and government to lead the fight against fanatics so that extremism will not prevail?
How can the Cabinet justify the total ban on the use of the word “Allah”, by surreptitiously inserting as an unwritten condition for the renewal of the printing permit of the Catholic weekly Herald, when for 50 years through four previous Prime Ministers, Tunku Abdul Rahman, Tun Razak, Tun Hussein Onn and Tun Mahathir, the use of the word by Christians and Sikhs had not caused religious misunderstanding, tension or conflict?
It is the Cabinet decision to impose a total ban on the use of the word “Allah” for non-Muslim religions, trampling on the fundamental right of freedom of religion for non-Muslims, that is exacerbating inter-religious relations in plural Malaysia.
Why are there no moderates in the Cabinet to hold the middle-ground or have the extremists and fanatics now outnumber the moderates among the Ministers?
Last Sunday, DAP MP for Seputeh Teresa Kok and I made a special trip to Kudat to gain first-hand understanding of the genesis for the Mazu statue controversy, why there had been such a failure of good governance in all three tiers of governance, local, state and federal, in the mishandling of the issue making Malaysia an international laughing-stock.
I was very glad and relieved that the Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who was also in Sabah on the same day, touched on the subject in Tuaran. Najib expressed the government’s hope that former Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Chong Kah Kiat could settle the Mazu statue dispute amicably without going to court. I immediately welcomed Najib’s statement.
However, after the government “somersault” in the Herald issue, renewing the permit but coming out with an unwritten condition that it could not use the word “Allah” which also infringes on the freedom of religion of the Sikhs, I have no confidence that Najib’s Tuaran statement signified the triumph of the moderates over the extremists in Cabinet and government.
My negative vibrations have been fortified by one former Chief Minister attacking another former Chief Minister over the issue, when they should be standing united to hold the middle ground to uphold the constitutional right of Sabahans and Malaysians on freedom of religion by continuing with the construction of the 108-ft Mazu statue in Kudat.
Yesterday’s Daily Express reported an attack on Chong Kat Kiat by Datuk Yong Teck Lee (both former Sabah Chief Ministers), with the latter accusing the former of not being prudent as “to aggravate the situation and raise the political tension by making harsh and hostile statements (as reported in newspapers on Jan 1).”
The Daily Express report “Accept in good faith: Yong” reported:
Yong, also a former Chief Minister, said the continued attacks by Chong on the Government and its leaders had only made the situation worse. He said it was also interesting that Chong has linked the so-called “Sipadan incident” to the Mazu project.
He said by opening up another issue, Chong now says that the Mazu project was, after all, not just about the Mazu project and there was a wider dimension. “Was Sipadan the one and only issue? Or, was Sipadan, an after-thought? If any, what were the other issues that Chong had with the Government and the BN going back to a few years?” Yong asked.
He said these were questions which answers would shed more background on how the Mazu project has turned out today.
What was the cause of Yong’s attack on Chong? This was the Daily Express report “Najib fully aware I exhausted all means: Chong” on Chong’s response to Najib’s statement in Tuaran, explaining that he had no choice but to institute legal proceedings, viz:
“Not that I want to be nasty and go to court. The suit that I took is not simply for the sake of main main saja. I have no choice kerana saya kena paksa. I have no choice but to seek legal redress kerana the State Government through the Kudat Town Board (KTB) withdrew atau revoked the KTB’s approval to the Mazu project under a specific provision of Section 15 of the Town Planning Ordinance.
“And under Section 16 of the same ordinance, whoever is aggrieved by the refusal of a permission or by the making of a prohibition must within 28 days from the date of receiving notice of the decision, appeal to the High Court against the decision by notice in writing,” he told a press conference at his office at Alamesra here.
On another newspaper’s heading “Govt Hopes Chong Will Settle Mazu Issue Amicably: DPM”, Chong said it is not the Government’s hopes but actually the hope of DPM.
“If it is the Government’s hopes, sudah selesaibah. Betulkah? Ini ada salah print sikit. Patut the DPM hopes. But DPM is not wrong because he has been fully briefed by me.”
Chong said since the letter of revocation was already issued to him on Nov. 15, 2007, it is imperative that he act accordingly.
“Sekiranya, saya tidak ambil tindakan, ertinya saya salah, (If I don’t take action, it means I am wrong); ertinya I admitted something wrong with my project. That is why I am appealing to the court.”
On Sunday, Najib said the issue of the Mazu statue can be resolved if the parties involved discuss it among themselves, instead of going through the courts.
Chong reiterated that he has been sabar (patient) for more one-and-a-half years. “If there is any BN leader in Malaysia who is really that patient, then Chong Kah Kiat is the man. If I wanted to be nasty, jahat, nakal, I would have taken the Government to court long time ago.
“I never did that. I have got letters and documents to prove how far and how wide I have gone through all this. You think I like to have this sort of problem? You think I like to give up my job?
“My message today is bukan saya seolah-olah main tunjuk lawa mau pergi court. Tidak, saya kena paksa kerana under Section 16, I only got 28 days to appeal against the decision.
“Kalau mau bincang, saya sudah bincang dengan banyak orang, KL and all this. Semua surat saya ada, semua dokumen saya ada. Not that saya tidak pernah buat perbincangan.”
The former CM said he had not only been discussing but writing, pleading, begging everybody in the BN to see reason, to be rational and reasonable.
“I have already done everything within my means. What did I get in the end – a letter to cancel my project!
“For the record, I also met PM. PM came to LDP Congress on 11th Nov.
PM asked me to see him the following Wednesday. I went to his office. We had a very good meeting on 14th Nov, to be fair to Pak Lah. He was very good. Everything is done. But Pak Lah being a diplomat, you knowlah.
“After having successfully met the PM on 14th Nov, the State ‘rewarded’ me with a letter of revocation letter on 15th Nov, contrary to what PM told me. As a result of which, I have 28 days from the date I received (the letter) to go to court, failing which, that would mean I salah (wrong).”
On the Government’s hope to bring the Mazu statue issue back to the negotiation table (instead of going through the court), Chong said it is not a question of negotiating.
“What is there to negotiate? It is a question of whether the Government’s decision is right or wrong. Simple logic. If the decision (conveyed in a directive dated June 6, 2006 from the Local Government & Housing Ministry, ordering suspension of works on the project) and followed by a letter from the State Secretary on June 23, 2006 (ordering immediate stoppage of work) is correct and legal, why should the Government talk about compensation and relocating the site?” he asked.
“I know I am not wrong. I have all this while adhered to the law.”
Answering a reporter on Federal leaders’ stand, Chong said: “They have been very good and understanding, all I can say. I don’t want to say much. But at the right time if I am forced to.”
Asked why then did the State not give the approval, he replied:
“Personal… I have said that already. If you remember May 2006 Sipadan – that is how it started. Before Sipadan, my project is already completed (except for assembling the statue). It’s all documented in the national and state papers. What was said, what was blasted, it’s all thereÉall the statements from the State leadership including mine.“Bulan satu buat kerja, bulan dua, bulan tiga, bulan empat, bulan lima buat kerja. All up already before this (Sipadan), in the open. Secara terbuka saya punya projek. Siap, sekarang mau assemble. After Sipadan, less than three weeks, my project was stopped – no one can run away from Sipadan. How otherwise can you explain?”
It is disgraceful and tragic that instead of the two former Sabah Chief Ministers standing on an united platform working for the completion of the world’s tallest Mazu statue at its original site in Kudat, as the 21 containers of granite carvings for the 108 ft Mazu statue had arrived and are lying idle in the Kota Kinablu port for the past 18 months, Yong Teck Lee is leading the attack on Chong Kah Kiat to oppose the Kudat Mazu project!
Is Yong Teck Lee with the moderates or the extremists in Sabah and Malaysia on the Kudat Mazu statue project?
It`s obvious that Yong Teck Lee is a supreme dhimmi.
DAILY EXPRESS NEWS
Police report over Fatwa
09 December, 2007
Kota Kinabalu: A police report has been lodged against Sabah Mufti, Datuk Haji Ahmad Alawi Haji Adnan for issuing a “fatwa” (religious decree) that forbids religious statues or replicas of human and animals in public places close to the road.
Kanul Gindol, political secretary to the Parti Keadilan Rakyat Vice-President Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, said in a statement the fatwa issued in July last year could incite hatred and animosity in a plural society like Malaysia.
http://thieneleventhhour.blogspot.com/2007/12/worst-bigot-award.html
I recently met two high ranking govt officers from a Central Asian country. Their Islamic roots stretched back to about the 7th Century, long before the religion came to Malaysia.
When deciding where to eat, they noticed that I was very conscious of the type of food they could not eat. When I told them about how Malaysia has become more strict over the years, they laughed at the hypocrisy of people trying to act pious on one hand and yet going against the spirit of the teachings on the other hand.
They explained to me how there is no prostitution in Iran. In order to circumvent the sins of sleeping with a prostitute, a man can marry the prostitute, then divorce her after being serviced. Technically, that man is not committing a sin.
This is an example of how people can interpret the scriptures according to where they see fit.
This reminded me of the hypocrisy in Malaysia where people can be so corrupted on one hand and yet on the other hand they acted so holy and righteous, and not shameful to trample on the beliefs of other people. What hypocrites.
I find it very hard to respect this PM anymore. He doesn’t walk the talk. Statements after statements, he said one thing and does the opposite in his action. He has no credibility left. Anything he says these days are taken with a spoonful of salt. He’s a disgrace to the high office of the PM and a nincompoop.
Speaking about Batu Pahat, as YB Lim knows, there is a pyramidal shaped Catholic Church with a tall steeple.
When I went back for a short visit a few years back, I noticed that the new mosque in town has very tall minarets. When I asked why they needed the minarets to be so tall, I was told that they have to be taller than the cross on the Catholic Church.
So, with this type of mentality, it would be hard to get the tallest Mazu statue in Sabah. If they allow that, they would probably build a mosque on Mt Kinabalu and be the world’s tallest mosque.
to mata_kucing ….
I doubt if the PM is a bit concerned about your feelings towards him …. in this election time … his main concern would be about the feelings of the MAJORITY who will vote for him … read: The Orang melayu Islam! Thats’ is his main concern at this point of time. BUT remember that his heart is still connected with the REST but the REST might not be able to convincingly vote for him. Remember the time when Tengku Razaleigh wore the UNISLAMIC Kadazan head-gear during the Semangat 46 era? If Pak lah is not careful now …. he will fall to the same disgrace as Tengku Razaliegh.
Badawi made a “stirring” call ? You gotta be kidding. The only stirring call will be that which wakes him up from his stupor.
“…the word ‘Allah’ predates the revelation to the Prophet Muhammad and goes way back to the pre-Islamic era. Christians had been using the word long before there were any Muslims…” — From Farish A. Noor (http://www.othermalaysia.org/content/view/140/52/)
So it should be the Muslims who must stop using the word Allah. Don’t steal this word from Christians and privatize it.
I wonder if someone will say, “Kalau tak suka, keluar dari Malaysia. Ini negara Islam.”
For those not familiar with history, please log in http://www.youtube.com and type history of religion in under 2 min.
…but all the muslim menteri-menteri in the cabinet are exremists!! so of course lah!!!
Aiya Bedollah cakap tak serupa bikin one lah. Not uncommon already
Dear Geezer.
Indeed there are many hypocrites in world, Malaysia is no exception. However, hypocrites are not limited to one race, religion only.
As for religious requirement, all of us must respect the sensitivity of each other. What is wrong for Muslims to be cautious about what they eat. That is not the sign of hypocrisy. That is the manifastation of their faith.
And Mr Geezer may not realize that once Vatican objected the construction of a mosque in Italy as it seems to threaten the “dominance” of St Peters Church. My point is very simple. Every religion when in control, although they tolerate the presence of other religions want to ensure their religion is seen as dominant. It is as simple as that.
As for Lucia, some mannerism is of course desired here. If what you said is true, then Malaysia is doomed long time ago. As for AntiRacial Discrimination, please accept reality. Ask around everybody inMalaysia. Ask them What Allah is. They will say that this is what Muslims believe as God. Nobody will say it is also what Christians consider as God.
It is done in good faith. To prevent confusion.
A leopard does not lose its spots easily; camouflaged them, yes.
Many decisions of our ruling government are situational decisions and are not made based on clear guiding principles. That’s why we waste a lot of time, energy, and money ding-ding-dong-dong over various changing decisions. One step forward and two steps back.
Every bad, short-sighted, and not well-thought of decision actually costs a lot of wasted money. For example, a decision to change the name of a public higher learning institution from ‘University College’ to ‘University’ will lead to extra funds wasted just to change the logo, the letterheads, etc., and to respray the name and logo on all vehicles of the organization.
Maybe some people in power want never ending changes, so that with each change, there are opportunities to fatten their wallets (truly Never Ending Parasitism style).
As far as Allah and Mazu are concerned, we will see if decisions will change again.
Likewise, the affair of the cross + may not be over yet. Soon the Cabinet may forbid Muslims to own and drive Chervolet cars, because of the logo of Chevrolet. The Cabinet may also forbid Muslims to deal with and to open accounts with United Overseas Bank (UOB), because of its logo (How many crosses are there?). How about the St John Ambulance Brigade? Will it be haramkan?
Interesting developments as we are governed by more and more narrow-minded and less and less self-confident individuals!
What was possible many years ago is not possible now. Does it mean that Muslims in the past in Malaya/Malaysia were less Islamic than Muslims now? Or, does it mean that Muslims now are not as self-confident, from the religious point of view, than Muslims in the past? We wonder.
YB
It had been many months since the election fever had been unofficially launched.
So many issues had been sucessfully uncovered + highlighted by the oppositions, social groups + the internet community. All is the same bag of shit. Racial, religion, NEP + so on.
I congratulate the DAP + Sdr Tony Pua for coming out with the alternative budget + his press statement on the Crude oil price issue. I think the Rakyat are more interested in real issues, rather then sendiwaras ala BN.
As the premier political party outside of the BN + the only Social Democrats, it is high time DAP come out to explain more on National Economics issues rather than petite scandals like sex, wordings of God or even who’s God statue should be taller + so on. Leave those to peanuts brains of the BN to fight over. After all what other good can they do.
As you predicted GE is just around the corner. Why had we not heard anything about the United Front alternate to the BN? Or are the opposition just around to oppose? The Oppostion should be there to lead, as you guys got 40%+ of all the Malaysians who voted the last time around. I purpose you lead the oppostion, to gear up for the coming GE, least you guys be judged nothing different from the BN.
The people whom blog on your site are growing not only in numbers but wisdom as well. As purposed sometime back, we should meet up. We should harvest these opinions + generate them into action groups. This is how Socialists International, grew + maintained their activities, right?
YB. Time to let the BN rot in their follies, bet you more to come. Time to lead + educate those Malaysians who believe in you + your team. Time to translate words into movement. Like Nike’s Motto: “Just Do IT”….for Malaysia.
My thoughts are that these hypocrite bn politicians are not in the least interested in religion at all. They are, to me anti-religion! The only reason that they bring up religion so strongly is solely for their selfish political agenda.
Spare a thought on this bolehland puzzle. If bodohwi is so religious he will not go against his own religion to “invent” a new variant to it. Isn’t that forbidden by the holy Prophet? Yet he did it & must have felt like a second prophet. Utter brainlessness OR utter stupidity OR showng utter contempt. Your guess is as good as mine.
It is all a matter of whether you have faith in and humility towards your God. If your God is all great and powerful, then you don’t have to try so hard to prevent your own to convert out of your religion, to snatch dead bodies to be buried in your burial ground, to stop other religion from buliding monuments higher than yours, to restrain others from using any word to describe or call God. Why do you have so little faith in your God as if He would be so helpless unless mortals go all out to protect Him? It should be Faith in God and Humility in His presence, not so much the Laws of God that should govern our conduct vis-a-vis God. What is man’s understanding compared to God’s? Is your God of so little power that He would fear that “non-God” actions would water or whittle Him down? Would your God forsake His own creation of dogs by despising them? I mean it is those men with such shallow regards for God and His Almighty Power who are creating the religious mess that we are facing now and by such nonsense creating and festering all the religious animosity and conflicts that our world is burdened and threatened with. Stop to think, understand, love, pray…that is what the so-called religious people should do. Not issuing divisive Cabinet directions, fatwa’s etc to divide and rule. Pak Lah should know better that the Muslims have no proprietary rights over the name or word “Allah”. So far as God is concerned, I tend to think. what is in a name?
“The administration of Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi came to power on the promise that it would promote its own brand of moderate Islam that was pluralist and respectful of other cultures and religions. But time and again the Malaysian public — first Hindus and now Christians — have felt necessary to protest over what they regard as unfair, biased treatment and the furthering of an exclusive brand of Islam that is communitarian and divisive†– by Dr Farish Noor.
Farish has summed up the contradiction AAB’s admnistration sovereignly.
It has something to do with the dynamics of political leadership, to be more precise, weak leadership.
The leader with 90% electoral mandate started off 4 years ago with lofty promises. Whilst trying to encourage opinion, argument, debate and discussion throughout his party and cabinet, he is however unable to convince them that he has the force of character to assert and maintain control via executive leadership.
Power brokers (dubbed “Napoleons†big and small) will try filling the perceived power vacuum whenever there is the opportunity. They exploit the open culture of debate espoused by the leader to assert their own voice and influence, verily along extremist lines based on race and religion to procure support and build up their own centers of power and spheres of influence.
The weak leader, unsure of his power base, demonstrates no confidence to stamp his authority and shut them up when they cross the line into extremism.
He is afraid that they will mobilize support in backlash against him. His affability is construed as weakness. This encourages the “Napoleons†and others emboldened by their successful examples to become bolder and more extreme the next time around.
The “moderates†among those in government will simply be shouted down, coerced into silence and they dare not further raise their voice of moderation when perceiving that the leader will or dare not support them.
At the same time the leader is perceived by those whom he promised moderate and pragmatic positions to have reneged on his promises, therefore losing further of their ground support and approval.
This causes the leader to be even unsure of his power base, which in turn makes him even more conciliatory towards extremists determined to challenge his power to enhance their own turfs.
This operates in a self feeding vicious cycle.
As more extremists gain their way and are perceived rewarded by not having their stance overruled by the leader, more and more moderates feel that it does not pay to rock and boat and end up acquiescing with this unfortunate state of affairs of the country hurtling fast down the road to greater extremism.
It might come as a stunning surprise and a revelation to many that the word “ALLAH†itself is SANSKRIT. In the sanskrit language Allah, Akka and Amba are synonyms. They signify a goddess or mother. The term “ALLAH†forms part of sanskrit chants invoking Goddess Durga, also known as Bavani, Chandi, Mahishasumardini. T
If you ponder over what is the reason behind for bringing up a none issue like a word “ALLAH” which means God to so many other religions in the world other than Islam in Malaysia just before the next GE, you can understand how dangerous religion can become when it falls into the hands of filthy politicians.
I hope Malay muslims in Malaysia are not easily cheated by the crooked gomen this time.
Still no official statement on this from PAS?????????
Actually PAS don`t have to do anything on this one. UMNO keeps sinking deeper on their own.
Saudara Shamshul Anuar, Salam (Shalom – Hebrew)
In earlier posting I mentioned I speak B Malaysia pretty well. I worship my God in Bahasa too. If you and I sit side by side, dan waktu itu Azan didengar, mungkinkah saya mengikut Shamsul masuk keMasjid?
Sebaliknya, saya mengambil Alkitab B Indonesia dan membaca Yahya 3:16 “Kerana begitu besar kasih Allah akan dunia ini, sehingga Ia mengaruniakan Anak-nya yang tunggal , supaya setiap orang yang percaya kepadanya tidak binasa, melainkan beroleh hidup yang kekal,†mungkinkah saudara mengikut saya ke Gereja besok?
Who appoint the cabinet to be a guardian over my religion? I am certainly not pleased because I am not confused. If I say you’ll get confused, don’t you think I am looking down at your ability to think for yourself? Well Shamsul we are just talking here, no offense, okay?
Mr Tickler, no the word “Allah” has no relation to Sanskrit.
Teresa Kok? you are having a Christian name.
Then how can you promote a non-Christian project?
May be you will be considered haram and will be sent to hell upon your death
The biggest historical Buddha statue was destroyed by the Taliban in Afghanistan several years ago
I remember the priests asked the Jesus followers not to worshop the statues and not to follow the tradition Taoism, but you promoted that.
so who are wrong? the priests or you?
YB Lim KS,
In the “annus horibilis†you gave AAB all Fs for 2007. Today is only the 5th day of 2008 and this week itself we already have a few negative news. What would the whole of 2008 be? God have mercy on us.
Well, firstly the morons monopolized the country’s economy , by taking a hugh pie for themselves, what now ? they want to monopolize God (Allah) as well ?? Can someone from the middle east educate these people, the extermists ,the morons and the likes,better still God, please send them to hell ASAP, how can you stand thier abuse??
Govt may just create these issues to divert attentions of the electorate on the bigger issues, such as vast wastage n corruption of nation’s money every where, F… up govt building projects, Instana Z… , Mindef purchases of weapons etc.
Brace for many price increases after GE.
The Talibans could not tolerate to see the historical statue of the Buddha in Afghanistan. Consequently they blew up the statue. To them, the haram has to be destroyed. The Talibans are the terrorists and extremists.
So is the BN government an extremist when the Hindu temples have to be destroyed? and when they could not tolerate another big statue popping up?
S.XXX111, 7-8:
And remember We took from the Prophets their Covenant: As (we did) from thee; From Noah, Abraham, Moses, And Jesus the son of Mary: We took from them a solemn Covenant: That (God) may question the (Custodians) of Truth………………….
Are we going to ban Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Marys’ names from being used by “Malaysian” Christians since these names have been mentioned in the Quran?
The government of the day should seriously do some indepth reflections on their decision to ban Allah for non muslims (Christians).
Our leaders are at par with the world leaders- you can SAY THAT AGAIN……………….
For He received a Bachelor of Arts in Islamic Studies from the University of Malaya in 1964 we should respect our PM. He is qualified in this matter………………..
For those of us who are interested to know the origin of the word “Allah”, it’s pre-Islamic origin or whether it is a combination of words involving the Hebrew language or if it is a combination of Arab and Sanskrit words etc could visit sites like this, and read more about Islam and Hinduism http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/Hinduismvs_Islam/id/54139
But I’m getting Allah fatigue right now.
We are losing the wood from the trees. I don’t know if anyone notices that certain key leaders within the UMNO leadership are playing ‘good cops and bad cops’ for a reason. Could they be readying themselves for a leadership struggle?
Dear shamshul anuar, (Dato’ ?)
I have been reading your contribution here and I cant help but notice that you are the protector of your race and religion. Of course I respect that and I have no problem with that at all.
However, I only have a problem with your logic, that it is OK to practice what is inhuman when it is also committed by others when you wrote “Every religion when in control, although they tolerate the presence of other religions want to ensure their religion is seen as dominant. It is as simple as that”. I am sure you have heard “An eye for eye, the whole world will go blind”.
Basing on your logic, if the Jews in Israel is suppressing the Palestinian, then must be OK to you that UMNO to suppress the non-Malays in Malaysia like imposing the will of Islam onto others.
Please do not skewed this rebuttal as being religious intolerance or racist, I just like you to explain your logic.. its amazingly naive.
“PM asked me to see him the following Wednesday. I went to his office. We had a very good meeting on 14th Nov, to be fair to Pak Lah. He was very good. Everything is done. But Pak Lah being a diplomat, you knowlah.”
So since he fancies himself more as a diplomat rather than a politician and prime minister, it’d not be a bad idea if we bundle him and send him off to Timbuktu??!
“I doubt if the PM is a bit concerned about your feelings towards him …. in this election time … his main concern would be about the feelings of the MAJORITY who will vote for him … read: The Orang melayu Islam! Thats’ is his main concern at this point of time.” zack
Orang Melayu Islam? But I’m orang Melayu tetapi bukan Islam. I cannot return to Malaysia because LKS cannot guarantee my freedom – no one can.
This is not the first nor the last. MCA and MIC sold out the non-muslims a long time ago. Some years back they send a circular to all schools to stop serving non halal food in their schools. (all forgotten) In my own experience I saw a Sekolah Kebangsaan headmaster instructing a mud clean up of a canteen table because a non muslim boy aged about 8 years ate pork at that table(food packed by his mother). I have said this before and saying it again that sekolah kebangsaan is a misnomer. Now they want to trademark a particular word. A never ending stupidity.
BN says issues are discussed and “settled behind closed doors”. Now we know why they want them settled behind closed doors.
Thats when the eunuchs are TOLD in no uncertain terms to kow-tow or else. Best part is they continuously obey shamelessly.
The “good guy” ploy by the Prime Minister is not new. He speech at the christian function was to hoodwink and fool all fools. No one with any akal would have beleived him. He is a “humbug’ of the first order. Have we all forgotton how he has failed to fulfill any of his last election promises? He has fooled all Malaysians except of course the ‘chosen ones’ and his cronies and relatives. Lets not be fooled anymore. Let us take the next opportunity and make THE CHANGE!
Pak Lah says he has big ears and listens. Yes, thats it. He just listens. He didn’t say he will do anything. He just listens. Listening is cheap.
But his minders stills says “No way”.
The word Allah is used in the latest issue of the Herald. Now what is the Internal Security Minister going to do?
“…UMNO to suppress the non-Malays in Malaysia like imposing the will of Islam onto others.” UzMiNoOnist
What d’ya mean by “imposing the will of Islam onto others”? I’m curious to know.
Halal food? For the good of our health, it would better be the Indian vegetarian food.
If the government suggests NO MEAT for the benefit of our health, I would cooperate. But not only when a particular type of meat is banned.
If church and state are not separated in the U.S. Constitution and Judaism is made the “religion of the federation” they would have a serious problem with kosher food and non-kosher food during state dinners etc.
This is just another none issue that the desperate BN gomen is trying to rope in as many Malay votes in the coming GE. I hope all our sensible Malay friends will not fall into the filthy hands of these dirty politicians abusing religion to manipulate people.
The more portant issues are PKFZ, the jets & the submarines etc… and talk about free & fair election you don’t know what the extented EC is frantically doing right now ???????
Ex-Sabah Chief Minister says:
“For the record, I also met PM. PM came to LDP Congress on 11th Nov.
PM asked me to see him the following Wednesday. I went to his office. We had a very good meeting on 14th Nov, to be fair to Pak Lah. He was very good. Everything is done. But Pak Lah being a diplomat, you knowlah.”
YB LKS’ report card on PM – all F’s.
Ex-YB Chong KK report card on PM – “All play and no work”. Also, “all words and no substance”.
Bill Clinton: “I can take a bloody fool for a friend. But I cannot take a bloody fool for a President.”
Same, same here!
Najib may be teaching crabs how to walk, and Samy Vellu may be the mother of all craps, but Abdullah is no crab because he walks the talk?
This Badak-wi government better be careful. It’s one thing to fight the Chinese or Indians, it’s completely another thing to fight the Sikhs. They may set up the Sikhs Rights Action Patriots (better known as SIRAP),and then it’s going to be Khalistan Zindabad…….
This is the direct result of decades of unchecked religious extremism and narrow, short sigted and damaging politics of race and religion.
There is no quick fix – its consequences are permanent, long term and far reaching.
Too much pride, arrogance and greed with no/little leadership with responsibility, accountability and competency.
Malaysian police used a water cannon to disperse protesters who held a candlelight vigil Saturday against internal security laws being used to hold ethnic Indian activists without trial.
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/320918/1/.html
“What d’ya mean by “imposing the will of Islam onto othersâ€? I’m curious to know”
Every religion or doctrine has a set of norms and beliefs or simply called the do’s and don’s. Followers are ‘manifesting their faith’ [samshul anuar] by doing what is required of them. This required action is what I call ‘the will of the religion or doctrine’, like Islam forbids its followers from eating pork and therefore such belief is practiced by all its faithfuls.
In a religion, such will or set of norms and beliefs has to be followed strictly by its followers or otherwise being imposed onto them. Those who impose such ‘will’ are those who have higher authority within their subjects or communities. Followers who do not practice such norms or failed to exhibit such beliefs through their action(s) can be punished severely within the context of their religion or doctrine.
By “imposing the will of Islam onto others†is simply compelling non-followers to comply to such norms or belief, like forbidding or preventing Non-Muslim from eating pork or making it impossible for Non-Muslim to practice their norms freely like eating pork.
By stating ‘pork eating’ as Haram and publicly equating pork to ‘najis’ or ‘shits’ is an example of imposing such will. As matter of fact, how would one like to be told ‘you are eating a bowl of shit’
I am sure great religion like Islam has no provisions for such imposition to non-followers. However Islam as practiced by UMNOs in Malaysia is totally different. The government led by UMNO goes round putting circles around non-Muslims like confining certain practice to a place far away from their sight like stalls that sell pork have to be distinctly far away from the stalls that sell beef in wet markets all around Malaysia.
Now, Malaysia is taking the practice of the great religion of Islam to another level of extremes, like banning any building it deemed to be forbidden by Islam within the sight of its place of worship. If such practice is to be continued, there will be no more churches and temples in Malaysia, judging by the numbers of suraus and mosques mushrooming in all parts of Malaysia.
Such is my primary concern and it is what I call “imposing the will of Islam onto othersâ€
So what freedom of religion is the government of Malaysia promoting?
// Malaysia is taking the practice of the great religion of Islam to another level of extremes, like banning any building it deemed to be forbidden by Islam within the sight of its place of worship//
So places of worship such as churches and temples, in order to be out of (telescopic?) sight of mosques and suraus, will have to be 6 feet underground. But then they would still be detected by sonar
The status of women was that of pride and equal respect. How could it be otherwise with a people whose chief deity was the goddess Durga (Alla). Women married men of their choice and were financially independent. They were entrepeneurs, artisans, poets and even warriors! Later on Muhammad would marry Khadija, who was not only a wealthy merchant but also in the position to choose her own husband. This clearly demonstrates the level of freedom women enjoyed in Vedic Arabia.
http://www.vnn.org/editorials/ET0002/ET21-5523.html
By their own reasoning, tugu negara, big helang in langkawi, tortoise statue in trengganu, also haram, should be removed soonest! all old RM1 note(with tugu n.) must all be destroyed, anyone holding it shall be fined! person who design tugu n RM 1 shall be prosecuted!
Hi Shamshul, tak menjawap saya, tak apa. Hari ini hari Ahad.
Logik yang saudara sebut tentang Vatican dan Masjid, adakah ia berkaitan dengan keadaan di Malaysia, dimana kita berbincang tentang hak orang-orang yang disebut Malaysian? Jangan lupa Vatican adalah negara tersendirian.
Tak apa, tak payah jawap. Ahad ini saya perlu bersorak sorai ke gereja dengan pujian, nyanyian dan mazmur, mengikut cara Raja Daud. Tak mungkin ikut saya, kan?
On logic, there is no reason to stop the Mazu project as is. On politics and personal views there seem to be the motivation of what is happening.
What I don’t get is, if this is about politics and personal views, why is Yong, a former Chief Minister, getting into the middle of the politics and personal views? Its clear that ordinary Sabahan in his state want the Mazu project and really why attack Chong who have already resigned? The only answer is he is trading favours, selling out in order to further his own interest. Its shameful. Just shameful his actions when there are real issues here.
Chong now sounds like someone who feel he as been pushed to close to breaking with BN. He has stopped short of directly attacking Badawi’s leadership. I find it strange he has no qualm in a veiled attack on Najib. The man is taking on some very powerful forces and his fellow BNers don’t appreciate it but rather engrossed in their own selfish politicking.
What is dissapointing is Chong still see it fit not to move over to opposition, thinking he can make it work within BN framework and through the courts. If he were Malay, he would already have gone over to the opposition.
“//….My point is very simple. Every religion when in control, although they tolerate the presence of other religions want to ensure their religion is seen as dominant. It is as simple as that..//” -shamshul anuar in 3rd para of posting.
Yes of course but how is this consistent and reconcilable with your statement in 2nd para of same posting : “As for religious requirement, all of us must respect the sensitivity of each other”?
Are you practising “sensitivity” by saying that my religion in control is dominant meaning other’s are subordinate?
Is this right – ought this to be the case when practised by the government?
This is the multiracial and multi religious country. If you want to practise me dominant and you subordinate, then don’t go round on a high moral horse making speeches on multi religious tolerance and not practising what you preach….
Oh Dollah boy, the elections, the elections are coming
From glen to glen, and down the mountain side
The summer’s gone, and all the flowers are dying
’tis you, ’tis you must go and I must bide.
Don’t come you back when summer’s in the meadow
Or when the valley’s hushed and white with snow
’tis I’ll be there in sunshine or in shadow
Oh Dollah boy, oh Dollah boy, I don’t miss you so.
Click for Music : http://www.contemplator.com/midimusic/danny.mid
“Tolerating the presence of other religions” just like “tolerance” of non malays/non muslims as citizens sharing the country’s benefits and obligations is not enough if tolerance here implies, in context, that the others are tolerated for so long as they are and remain in “subordinate” in rights whether relating to religion or otherwise.
The word tolerance should connote “respect” and where is that respect if the other side is viewed “subordinate” relative to one’s “dominant” position?
Anyone who first learn English and try to learn the meaning of the word “tolerance” will know it does not mean “indifference” or “neglect” or just acknowledging the other exists.
To “tolerate” means to “bear with” or “suffer of.” It includes to endure “to endure,” or “to sustain pain or hardship,” “without interference or molestation.”
On this understanding, tolerance of multi religious society can only make sense in that it involves the people of majortity religion, though not agreeing with or even approving the other religions, to bear with and endure the latter by according religions of minorities with at least sufficient respect in terms of right to cater their religious needs by erecting a statute like Mazu statue in Kudat instead of just dismissing it, as Mufti Sabah did, in saying it was “haram”. Yes it is harams to Muslims but it is not to non muslims worshippers in Kudat, so what has it got to do with it? How can one stop the project on this ground and yet claim one is tolerant? It means one does not understand the word “tolerant” when using it.
An example of tolerance – although pork is haram to Muslims, pork is allowed to be sold for needs of non muslims. So should Mazu statue in Kudat be allowed to be erected on same basis.
Malaysia: Sliding into Religious Intolerance
Many recent events in Malaysia seem to point to the possibility that Malaysia, a country which often prides itself on the cultural and religious diversity that can be found within its borders, is slipping slowly into intolerance and religious favoritism. A conservative view that favors Islam over the religious traditions of the countries substantial religious minorities is beginning to grip the country.
Numerous incidents that have occurred over the past several months have sparked concern among the countries Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, and traditional Chinese religious adherents that their rights of religious freedom enshrined in Malaysia’s constitution are increasingly being violated and subordinated to the will of Malaysia’s Muslim community. These groups collectively comprise about 40% of the country’s population.
From: The Grieboski Report provides analysis and critique of current events within the context of religious freedom, human rights, and social justice around the world.
http://religion-and-policy.blogspot.com/2008/01/malaysia-sliding-into-religious.html
5.2. Implement the legislative reforms proposed by the MCCBCHST in their Memorandum dated 20 October 2005 entitled “Respect the Right to Profess and Practice One’s Religion†immediately. At the moment, these reforms are being considered by the Law Reform division of the Attorney General’s Chambers.
5.3. Religious programmes on State owned radio and television, in Bahasa Malaysia and in all the vernacular languages, should recognize similar values preached in other religions and not suggest that the universal values shared by all religions are only unique to Islam. There should also be religious programmes on Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism.
5.4. All national schools to ensure religious and cultural classes for non Muslims, by teachers sanctioned by the religions concerned, as part of the curriculum. In addition, civic studies should be introduced for all students irrespective of race and religion.
http://www.hindusangam.org.my/news/index.php?id=69
Wasn’t Yong Teck Lee the CM that sold off Sabah government owned MISC shares in exchange for worthless Borneo (NBT) shares and lost the state hundreds of millions?
More on that here:
In his statement yesterday, Matiasin purported to give a summary of the Warisan Harta-NBT transaction, namely:
* By way of a share swap, Suniwang Holdings Sdn. Bhd. is to acquire MISC shares from Warisan Harta Sabah Sdn. Bhd. at RM5.70 per share.
* In return, Warisan gets RM50 million cash, plus other quoted stocks, including NBT at market price at time of transaction.
* Furthermore, Warisan is more than adequately secured and protected by sufficient collateral security against any dimunition of the quoted shares acquired.
* It will not lose even if the NBT share prices fluctuate as a result of market sentiments.
* Legal buy-back arrangements are in place.
http://www.limkitsiang.com/archive/1998/Jan98/sg861.htm
Also:
However, Yong Teck Lee was vague as to whether this RM50 million cash had been paid and credited into the accounts of Warisan Harta.
Furthermore, what is the use of the State Government trumpeting that it did not have to pay a single sen for the three million NBT shares if it had incurred a RM73 million loss for acquiring them without having to pay a single sen?
The word Allah has been used to refer to God even before the Islamic religion was born. UMNO-led government chose to ban the word Allah because it considered Allah the Islamic God, or rather God as understood by Muslims is Allah.
By the ban, christians using bahasa Malaysia for their prayer may be able to call Allah if they are not within the hearing distance of the authority, but they will certainly not be unable to read about their God known as Allah in Bahasa Malaysia.
Even if Allah refers exclusively to Islamic God, which is clearly not true, Allah belongs to all Muslims in the world, and not just Muslims in Malaysia. Allah is a non-diminishing ‘asset’, for want of a better word to describe an omnipresent and omnipotent being, and even if non-Muslims in Malaysia ‘erroneously’ share the blessing of Allah, it would be at no cost to Muslims in Malaysia.
When UMNO government is not willing to share Allah with non-Malays, at no cost of its own, how can we believe that UMNO has ever practised power-sharing, which it could have all to itself?
Is there muslims here on the blog? May we know exactly why pork is prohibited in Islam? I know that Jewish also prohibited prok. Is it because pork is not “clean”?
Mr Pulau Sibu,
Sibu is founded by the Foochow, Christians who migrated from their province in around 1860. Ask a nearest Foochow.
Hey, anyway the answer to your question: Leviticus 11:7. Divided hoof and does not chew the curd. This applies to Christians as well! But then, I eat bak kut teh, because we are in age of grace, not in the age of the law (susah mau explain to you).
Ask a Muslim whether he knows why he cannot eat pork? Try lah, just for fun. (The answer is still this Levitical Law. In Bahasa, Leviticus is “Imamat.”)
BN government always talking about tolerance. Who is tolerating who???
“…Ask around everybody in Malaysia. Ask them What Allah is…†Shamshul anuar
Good question, you should ask those Christians who have their church services conducted in Bahasa Malaysia and use the Indonesian bible. I am sure everybody from this group will give a clear answer that Allah is their God in the bible.
Pulau sibu,
Let me try to explain in a non-religious way. When the Israelites were wondering in the desert God wanted to protect them from food poisoning by eating certain food that could be easily contaminated because refrigerator has not been invented yet.
I’ve been a silent reader of this blog for quite a long time. Today I decided to express my concern about the banning word of Allah. I can’t take it any longer!!
I attended Mass services in Church since I was little. When I was 8 years old, I have started attending the classes for my confirmation in Church. The word of Allah has been used since then. We’ve been having our masses in BM and the word Allah existed in most of the prayers!! It’s not only me or my family used the word Allah for prayers but all the neighborhoods; to be precise EVERYBODY.
After 50 years of independent, then now it was declared that the word of Allah is belong to MUSLIM. What a shock. It may imply that we have two GODS or ALLAH – one is for the Muslim and the other is for non-muslim. Isn’t it weird?? By virtue there is only one GOD or ALLAH but the only difference would be the LANGUAGE.
The problem now, how to explain to the rural folks in the remote areas especially the people in Sabah and Sarawak that we can no longer use the word ALLAH if you are not a Muslim. What would their perception be? Why all of the sudden or why didn’t we realize earlier that ALLAH is belong to the Muslims?? I bet there will be loads of questions come out!!! Do we have to tell our people, use word GOD instead. I was practicing to pronounce GOD instead of ALLAH in one of the prayer e.g “Aku percaya akan ALLAH bapa yang mahakuasa…” Although the word of GOD carries the same meaning as ALLAH but wouldn’t it be strange to say ‘Aku percaya akan GOD bapa yang mahakuasa…”
I said to my Muslim friend that I can no longer utter the word ALLAH and she replied, “you can say it in front of me, May ALLAH bless you!!”
Don’t tell me, soon there will be a special dictionary or vocabulary book issued to tell Non-Muslim what words should be used and vice versa so that we, the Non-Muslim would not violate their religion!
I don’t know if I want to cry or to laugh about all the craps created but one thing for sure, I am ashamed to admit that I’m Malaysian just because of this issue!! I respect highly my religion as well as others. May ALLAH bless us all!
Ask any Malaysian who is Allah and the answer will be GOD (TUHAN), ask any Indonesian, Malaysian, Arab Christians who is Allah and the answer will also be GOD.
The word “ALLAH” is not Copy Righted to the Malay Muslims but is Copy Lefted (Freeware), this means every body can use the word ALLAH without any restriction and also no need to pay for copy right or beg the UMNO Master to allow the use word “ALLAH” as their GOD, until such time UMNO apply for Copy right for their exclusive use of the word, Get it?
Dear Uzminoonist.
Many thanks for your reply. However, please do not assume I am a Dato’. I am just En Shamshul Anuar.
In no way , UMNO or Malaysian Govt is imposing Islam on non Muslims. The record speaks for itself. The ruling on the word “Allah” is necessary to prevent confusion. Since it is generally accepted that everybody( in Malaysia) will say that Allah refers to what Muslims recognised as The God, therefore I see no reasons on the accusation of curtailing the freedom of practising other faiths.
Muslims refer to the place of worship of Christian faiths as Churches , not mosques. In similar vein, why insist on the word “Allah” when everybody knows that Christians recognise Jesus as their God. As for eating pork, Islam specifically prohibits it. It is actually “najis” to Muslims. Please enlighten the authority should any Muslim prohibits you from eating pork. As far as I know, no MUslims ever deny non Muslims the right to eat pork. You can have your pork to youre heart content. No problem to me or Abdullah Badawi or Yang Dipertuan Agung .
As for kanthanbboy, perhaps ( with due respect to Christianity)it is time to refer Jesus instead of Allah as reference to God.
As for Jefrey, please reread my comment. In no way I or Muslim or Malay or PM want to treat you as being insubordinate. I was just saying the plain truth about reality. Islam is prominent over other religions in Malaysia just like Buddhism is prominent over other faiths in Thailand.
The reason is simple. The largest etnic group in Malaysia is Malays who practise Islamic faith. Of course naturally Malays give priority on Islam. But other faiths are allowed to be practised freely. I am sure Jefrey understands that of course Pope regards Christianity as the dominant religion in Italy over other religions.
Because of Muslim’s sensitivity that you could find pig farms all over Malaysia. Because of Muslim’s sensitivity that you will find that Muslims do not use Encephalitis diseases as a reason to close once and for all the pig farms .
Because of the Muslims sensitivity that you will find that all religious festivals are accorded as national celebration, a rarity in this world. Because of Muslim sensitivity, many Chinese or Indian politicians survive elections.
As for Mr Onkyua, I studied Bible. I had been to churches in many countries. I respect your faith. As for Mr Loh, I must say this ” Seeing is believing”. The fact is staring at us. What do you call ( if not as power sharing) when even now half of the seats in Parliament is under UMNO. It can form FEderal Govt on its own if it is nasty. Remember during independence it held 34 out of 52 seats. It is matter of choice.
But in humility it is still willing to honour gentlemen agreement with non Malays. So, actually it is not that bad. In no way that I am making light on contribution of non Malays. But when someone trying to deny the fact, I must put the record straight. Many are not aware there are many seats currently held by non Malay politicians have Malay majority constituents. To name a few, : Gunung Semanggul( Perak), Semberong( Johor), Lunas( Kedah) , Kulim( Kedah).
In the Middle East, Allah is God to all her people – Muslims and Christains alike.
Pork is the most popular meat consumed by the people in the world. If pork is ” najis ” to Muslims, then non Muslims will be judged unfavourably and unfairly by Muslims.
Increasing political awareness of non Malay and moderate Malays is crucial to ensure Islamic extremism and fundamentalism do not create further damage to the country.
“…it is time to refer Jesus instead of Allah as reference to God.†.†Shamshul anuar
———————————–
I know it is illegal in Malaysia to talk to Muslims about Jesus but when Muslim like shamshul annuar wanted to teach me how I should refer Jesus I have to tell him the truth.
When I converse in English, I will refer Jesus as God. When I converse in Bahasa Malaysia, I will refer Jesus as Allah.
Decades of grossly divisive and damaging policies eg. bumi/non bumi, Malay/non Malay, Muslim/non Muslim, Halal/non Halal, Allah/non Allah and etc. that are destroying a multi racial and religious country of ours.
It seems the government is more interested in shapening the differences between the people to divide and rule.
Hai Shamshul,
Thank you for responding. Tapi tak menjawap soalan. Confusion, that was the question I asked. Are you confused after reading my post? No, isn’t it.
Just for discussion, the “haram” on pork, it is an old Levitical law. Levitical law means the law set by old old Levites as commanded by Musa (Moses) in the Torah. That was followed by Jews all the years. Don’t call it “najis” for no scriptural reason. It is in the same category as camel, coney, rabbit, pig – don’t even touch their carcasses. (Levitucus 11:7-9)
That law existed long before Christianity and Islam came.
Who called you Datuk… maybe he was joking lah. Anyway can we be friends?
///What do you call ( if not as power sharing) when even now half of the seats in Parliament is under UMNO. It can form FEderal Govt on its own if it is nasty.///— Shamshul Anuar
That is called window dressing. The non-Malay BN MPs are there to vote with UMNO. The non-UMNO cabinet ministers are there to make it look like Cabinet decisions were made on consensus. The fact that non-Malay ministers except one had to withdraw their memorandum to PM AAB shows that they were not even allowed to disagree outside the Cabinet meeting even through private correspondence. Since these ministers agree on government policies under duress, it might be better not to have them as ministers at all. All non-Malay ministers should not be made ministers if they did not win on non-Malay majority constitutencies. Or better still, UMNO should just form the government without the other component parties, and stop talking about power-sharing.
The window dressing allowed TDM to claim that non-Malays agreed to all government policies, including those that discriminated against non-Malays. Without non-Malays in the Cabinet, he would have to argue on the merit of the policies. Clearly he could not.
The government gives the impression of power sharing but UMNO does not practise it at all, on the policies concerning the people. They may share power to enrich themselves.
Does it cost UMNO anything to share Allah with non-Muslims?
Dear Onkyua.
Many thanks for your info. Perhaps you are not aware that for Muslims, pig or pork is considered “najis”. However, rest assured that no Muslims have ever deny the right of non Muslims on pork consumption. As for the reason why it is forbidden, it is clearly stated in Kuran. Besides, pig connotes dirty and all races of mankind associate it with four letter word.
As for Mr Loh, perhaps he did not get the point. The ruling is done in good faith; that is to prevent confusion. Everybody around the world realizes the fact that Muslims worship Allah and Christians worship Jesus. In Malaysia, you can ask around about Allah. People will reply that Allah is what Muslim accepts as God. As such, why the commotion.
Does this ruling prevent Christians from worshiping Jesus? No. So, what is the problem then? And what is the statement” Does it cost UMNO…? all about? I fail to see the relevance. Since when UMNO or Malays say that they monopolises Allah or Islam?
As for Kanthanboy’s remark, well what else can I say. Nobody is teaching him how should he adressed what he recognises as God. Just remember that at least in this country , automatically people will associate Allah as what Muslims worship.
As for accusation vs UMNO, well that is what hatred can do. It can blind us to the reality. As for Sotong’s remark, do realize that “halal” as it is in food is religious requirement for Muslims the way I do not serve meat to Hindus. In no way, it is done to divide the country.
Surely Mr Sotong can not deny on glaring reality that non Chinese find it so difficult to find employments in private sectors due to Mandarin requirement. They say it takes two to tango. Perhaps once a while Mr Sotong can start to think on his contribution to the unity of Malaysia.
I really confused the politics of Malaysia with the politics of Taiwan.
They all focus to the wrong direction, they focus on kissing their blade, while they should be leading the people, taking the blade int their hand, to do a gotong-royong cleaning the neighbourhood!
Discussing bout the “Allah” while they should put more effort on the issue of the cooking oil and public welfare, i don’t think they know people is now having a very bad day, as the economy is really bad. YB, why don’t you try to ask out BELOVED PM, how much is a kilogram of RICE!! haha i don’t think he knew, as usual!
Don’t all the YB, should aware that, WE, the PEOPLE OF MALAYSIA, elected you to become our representative, and you, all the YB, should you be grateful that we gave you the trust? but most of the YB don’t really honout the power we gave them. they not concentrate on public issue but on “BOCOR”, not seeing the effect of price increase of petroleum, but focusing on MAZU issue.
If there is god, MAZU and ALLAH will laugh and tease us from above. Did any of the God ever say, “I want my mosque/temple/church to be the tallest.” ?? If this is the way of granting a ticket to heaven, I think the GOD is no difference than all those corrupting rat in Malaysia government.
Contribution to unity in M’sia….the BN’s way is divisive and has failed!!
///Everybody around the world realizes the fact that Muslims worship Allah and Christians worship Jesus.///– Shamshul Anuar
They all use the same term Allah; and Allah was the term used long before Islam, as indicated in this blog. Eveybody would have included me, and others who wrote about it on this blog. I don’t agree.
It seems that fifty years into Independence the government becomes very considerate that the non-Muslims may pray to the wrong God called Allah, and so it decides to ban the use of the term Allah by non-Muslims. Banning non-Muslims from using the word Allah is said by Shamshul to be done in good faith, to prevent confusion. Who is confused? The non-Muslims are not confused in the use of the term Allah as their God, and they are very happy about using it all these years. Even if it is imposed by the authority that non-Muslims are confused, they are living in the bliss of that confusion. The happiness of non-Muslims in this confusion does not cost the government anything, and I do not wish to assume that the government is sadistic in making non-Muslims unhappy by banning the use of the word Allah.
So, was it to prevent confusion among Muslims? Religion is a private matter, and the number of people praying to Allah does not influence their share of blessing from Allah. The practice of Muslims in their belief in Allah is not affected by whatever non-Muslims choose to believe. Hence banning non-Muslim from using the word Allah does not affect Muslims in practising their religion. It does not add to their faith.
When non-Muslims want to use the term Allah, and the government decides that it should be banned, the act of banning is then for the interest of the government. So how does banning the word Allah benefit the government, and hence UMNO. In other words what does its cost UMNO if the word Allah is continued to be used by non-Muslims?
The question is for UMNO, and Malays are welcome to answer it. But it is important not to miss the point, and please do not claim that the question is irrelevance, when it is not comprehended.
//Everybody around the world realizes the fact that Muslims worship Allah and Christians worship Jesus.//
Opps..
Muslims worship ALLAH, Christians worship GOD
Jesus is the son to God and Nabi Mohammad s.a.w the messenger of GOD.
GOD = ALLAH, ALLAH = GOD, unless UMNO want to confuse the world.
//pig connotes dirty and all races of mankind associate it with four letter word//
Not my race unless you think that I am of a sub-race and my religion is the subordinate to Islam (with due respect).
//In Malaysia, you can ask around about Allah. People will reply that Allah is what Muslim accepts as God. As such, why the commotion//
1. We are seeing it as UMNO also want to monopolize the word ALLAH to themselves and be seen as the champion of Malay and gain political millage through manipulating religious sentiment of something very close to the Malay community’s heart. (You know, election is coming lah Dato’)
2. The word allah existed before Islam (with due respect)
3. A chauvinistic depiction of Islam by UMNO will not gain respect, at least not from me. But don’t get me wrong, I respect all religions (including the great religion of Islam) and no religion is subordinate to mine, I just can’t respect UMNO being very ‘ular’ or snaky about it.
//For Muslims, pig or pork is considered “najisâ€//
Please keep it to yourself ‘najis’ or no ‘najis’ as I don’t like my food to be called ‘najis’ by anyone. This I would consider as rude and no manners. Where is the Malay that is bersopan and ber adat that I used to know when I was youth and the Malays before ARABization?
shamshul anuar,
Please do not slant my comments as anti-Malay as I respect every people as human beings and no lesser. They are my friends and will still be my friends and countrymen irrespective of their political biasness.
The Jews, Christains and Muslims came from the same book……believing in a single entity – Allah/God.
Decades of narrow, short sighted and damaging politics of race and religion are doing enormous damage to the country.
Mr shamshul anuar,
i’ve read that you saying:Every religion when in control, although they tolerate the presence of other religions want to ensure their religion is seen as dominant. It is as simple as that.
take a look in China, Buddist is the main religion there. but there is still more than 60 million Muslims in China! More than the population in Malaysia, why they can live together happily, peacefully, but we can’t?
this come to the question of RESPECT, we respect other’s religion and race. Personally, i really HATE Christian saying Buddist/ Taoism was idol praising religion. really hurt me when i went back to my hometown as a Taoism. if I’m a idol praising guy, what do you call the Jesus and Holy Marry statue you placed in your church??
Same come with Islam with all the religion, we respect Muslim don’t take pork, so we don’t invite Muslim to Bak Kut Teh! and no Beef rendang to our indian friend.
Respect, my friend, it doesn’t mean that if you dominant the word “ALLAH”, mean you love the god more! Try and think, if you are talking loving God all the time, but doing all the wrong. ARE YOU STILL ENTITLE TO HEAVEN?