Not in the name of the Almighty, please
For now the “Allah” issue can come handy in elections at hand. Like the Sungai Limau by-election in Kedah which Umno want to wrest from PAS. An “ideal” situation for “Islamic issues”.
Mohsin Abdullah, Fz.com
What’s this talk that Putrajaya can override the Appeals Court’s decision in the usage of the word “Allah” by Christians? And the need for Putrajaya to revisit a proposal to have different laws for Sabah /Sarawak and the peninsula? A case of one country, two laws.
Such talk came from cabinet members of the Najib administration – Datuk Seri Maximus Ongkili and Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahalan.
Could this be sort of an “afterthought”? In the wake of a fierce reaction from a substantial number of Malaysians? In groups as well as individuals. But wasn’t such an angry response expected? Or are we right to sense signs of “panic” in the administration? Major or minor, regardless.
Abdul Rahman did not outline clearly what he exactly meant but Ongkili is seen as suggesting that Christians can use the word “Allah” in the Bible or Al Kitab as it is known.
And what about de facto law minister Nancy Shukri (and others in the government as well), “taking pains” to remind us rakyat that the court ruling “is restricted to Catholic weekly The Herald”.
As if right on cue, Umno-linked Malay newspaper Berita Harian took the liberty to “explain” in its editorial recently, that “Malaysians need to understand the use of the word “Allah” by the Herald has no connection with the use of the word by Christians in Sabah and Sarawak”.
And as such Berita Harian wants us Malaysians “not to be easily fooled by the provocation of certain parties that are intent on affecting racial and religious harmony in the country”. One need not be a genius to know the “certain quarters” Berita Harian was referring to.
As for the Appeals Court ruling involving only The Herald – how true.. We must thank Nancy Shukri and Berita Harian for reminding us. But tell that to the likes of Perkasa and the Malays who turned up at court the other day when the ruling was made.
They, well the majority of them anyway, were and are still under no illusion that the word “Allah” cannot be used by non-Muslims. Namely Christians. Period. Their t-shirts and banners said it all.
Perkasa boss Datuk Ibrahim Ali however opted for a “read the court ruling in toto and up to the authorities to interpret it” stance. At least moments after the ruling was made.
However wasn’t The Herald issue portrayed by the authorities as a “fight to save the akidah or faith of the Muslim ummah in Malaysia?” As such didn’t many Malays believe or were led to believe that the “enemies of Islam are out to get us”? Didn’t Friday sermons call for “Muslims to unite to fend off the enemies?” The “enemies” were not named of course but the message was clear. The word “Allah” must be defended and Christians must not be allowed to use it?
And in the middle of it all ,wasn’t Umno portrayed or seen as “championing Islam” and being the only party “determined and strong willed in defending the word “Allah”? And didn’t Umno benefit from the issue, enough for it to bag Malay votes in GE 13? At the expense of PAS which had to back paddle?
Yes, now we are hearing Umno supreme council members denying comments made by BBC News a few days ago that the ban on the “Allah” word was to “boost Umno’s Islamic credentials and to win back Malay support.”
Despite that, we still have Umno leaders taunting PAS asking via twitter if the Islamic party is agreeable that the “Biblical God be replaced by Allah”?
But now BN components are saying – out loud – the coalition risks losing GE14 because of the court ruling which has been hailed by Umno.
Read more at: http://www.fz.com/content/not-name-almighty-please
