Cabinet: 'Allah' for Muslims only

This is the headline on pg. 8 of theSun today. I didn't read it in any of the online news portal like Malaysiakini.

I quote 'The cabinet has decided that restrictions on the use of the word Allah still stand and Catholic weekly Herald therefore cannot use it although its printing licence has just being renewed'.

'In a statement yesterday, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Dr. Abdullah Mohd Zin said that apart from the Allah, the use of words Solat, Kaabah and Baitullah was also prohibited in the publications of religions other than Islam as per decision of the cabinet on July 30, 2002, which has been enforced since Dec5, 1986.'

I'm not sure whether the Sun got those dates right. How can you enforce a decision which has yet to be made?

Much has been said by others over this issue. But the best I've came across so far is the article written by Dr. Ng Kam Weng from Kairos. None of the main stream media wants to publish his article though theSun did published small excerpts from it. You can read the article here.

I'm to worship lead in my cell group tonight. The opening song I've chosen is one of my favourite worship songs in the Malay language

Kau yang terindah di dalam hidup ini

Tiada Allah Tuhan yang seperti engkau

Besar perkasa penuh kemuliaan

Kau yang termanis di dalam hidup ini

Ku cinta kau lebih dari segalanya

Besar kasih setiamu kepadaku

Ku sembah kau ya Allah ku

Ku tinggikan namamu selalu

Tiada lutut tak bertelut

Menyembah Yesus Tuhan rajaku

Ku sembah kau ya Allah ku

Ku tinggikan namamu selalu

Semua lidah kan mengaku

Engkaulah Yesus Tuhan rajaku

I'll sing it not only to worship God but as a protest against the Cabinet's decision to curtail my freedom of worship.

In the same report above, the Minister also said the use of the word Allah should not be made the subject of public debate such as to give the impression that there is no freedom of religion in the country. So now my freedom of expression has also been curtailed.

I say, 'Make this an election issue!'

Finally the minister said ' The use of the word Allah by non-Muslims may arouse sensitivity and create confusion among Muslims in the country'. Please don't insult your fellow Muslims.

I call upon all Christians in the country to support Sidang Injil Borneo's legal suit against the Govt in this matter. In prayer and moral support. Those of us who have been using English in our churches may not really appreciate the issue. But for our brothers and sisters who have been using the Malay language as the medium in their churches in particular those in Sabah and Sarawak, it is just like the Govt has now prohibit you to call your father by the name you have always been calling him.