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| Posted: 03 Jan 2014 06:24 PM PST That's the problem when you 'drag Allah to court'. Right from the very beginning, I told a Cabinet minister (he asked for my opinion) that arbitrating the 'Allah' issue in court will not solve any problem because the unfamiliarity of judges in weighing it will open the door to polemics. Never had any court worldwide presided such an issue. I said, the government should set up a special committee comprising of level-headed leaders or clerics from both sides and let them discuss it behind close door. Any decision must be respected by both the Muslims and Christians in Malaysia.  And before arriving at any conclusion, they must also measure its impact on national security and interfaith empathy. Of course there are some hedonists out there trying to sensationalise and even politicise the case. We can't find a jiffy solution to it since we have to re-assess the matter not only within the scope of the Federal Constitution but also within the framework of Islam and Christian by their original forms. If Islam permits non-Muslims to use the word 'Allah' and that the Muslim countries impose no restriction on it, then we should allow them. There must be a standard provision to avoid confusion when we allow only those in East Malaysia to use it while it is banned in the Peninsular. As the world closes in, many Sabahan and Sarawakian Christians have moved to the Peninsula to work or study, bringing with them 'Allah' to churches in the Peninsular. However, the Christians too must tolerate the Muslims in making such a demand. Former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the Christians lose nothing if they do not use 'Allah', and that they should not irritate the Muslims by doing so. It is 'unfortunate' that Malaysia is the only country where all religions receive equal treatment, making it among the most delicate matters for the government to manage. Although Islam is the official religion as stipulated under the Constitution, others are fully recognised. But in a democratic Malaysia, religion, race and ethnic do walk into politics, and when there is a need to lucre and opportune, some politicians will ride on it, forgetting its potentiality of developing into a time-bomb. And when things got ugly, it will turn the government into a punching bag - blame in all on the government and the ruling party! Even the Muslims are divided - one faction that says non-Muslims can use Allah while the other objecting to it - making it more difficult to get a consensus or to pool clerics or 'ulama' from both political divides to discuss it. Nobody will emerge winner in this tussle. You win and lose at the same time...  |
| Of M'sia and Angola, mosques and churches and originality of faith Posted: 03 Jan 2014 09:54 AM PST There are only about 90,000 Muslims among Angola's 18 million people. There are (opss... were is precise) 78 mosques but almost all have been shut down or demolished by the authority. The only one in capital Luanda is well-preserved for its historical value and to impress foreigners, especially from the Muslim world that Islam is alive and thriving. Late last year, there were reports that Luanda was coming down hard on Islam and Muslims, and there were plans to ban the religion. But the government took about a month to rebut it after the OIC (Organisation of Islamic Countries) 'advised' them of the consequences. Angola has many Arab investors. Only a few mosques are left to the Muslims, who did not protest. Neither did they resist. Why? Because Angola's constitution clearly states, 'any religious group or community should have at least more than 100,000 followers and a presence in at least 12 out of 18 provinces in the country to gain legal status, which will give them the right to build schools and places of worship'.  Being the 'unclassified' minority, the Muslims abide by the law and constitution. In Malaysia, all religions - including that of the minorities - are allowed to be practiced freely under the Federal Constitution. Places of worship are built with and without consent of the authorities, and the government even channeled funds for the purpose. However, the number of places of worship in Malaysia does not go on ratio. In some cases, there are more non-Muslim houses of worship in Muslim majority areas, and vice versa. I believe the government should impose some guidelines here to avoid unwanted controversy. And now that the controversy over the use of 'Allah' by both Muslims and Christians, I personally do not agree the matter being settled at court houses. The government should form a committee comprising of level-headed leaders or clerics from both sides to sit and settle it amicably. Defense Minister Hishammuddin Tun Hussein today issued a good reminder to Malaysians to stop the Allah polemic: I am not a Muslim scholar, neither am I a cleric. My knowledge about my religion is basic. However, in some arguments with fellow Muslims and non-Muslims on topics relating to Islam and Christian, some of my answers and arguments are more on logic and religious fact. For instant, Saudi Arabia does not allow churches to be built, so why are Muslims so mad about destroying a mosque in a non-Muslim country (like the incident in Angola?). Few remarks are to be made in this regards:
I hereby, sincerely urge my fellow brother, Muslim or non-Muslim, to look at the things we have in common, to open his/her eyes to see the facts as they are, and filter out the propaganda that some people is imposing on others. FOOTNOTE: (Written with no prejudice)  |
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