'Allah' issue erupts again. (sigh)

Yesterday:

High Court told Christian publications can now use the word "Allah"

The High Court was told that the Home Minister had gazetted an order under the Internal Security Act declaring that the use of the word "Allah" in Christian publications is no longer prohibited.

Senior Federal Counsel Nizam Zakaria, who represents the minister and the goverment, informed Judge Lau Bee Lan, when the judicial review application filed by Roman Catholic Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur Tan Sri Murphy Pakiam was mentioned in court that the Internal Security (Prohibition On Use of Specific Words on Document and Publication) Order 2009 has taken effect after it was gazetted earlier this month.

"I was informed that the first respondent - the minister - had actually gazetted an order to the effect that the use of the word "Allah" in the publications relating to Christianity is no longer prohibited," said Nizam, adding that the judicial review application would now be academic.

- The Sun


Now Showing:

'Allah' issue erupts again.

While the Roman Catholic Archbishop's suit against the home minister and the government seemed to be at its end following the gazetting of an order under the Internal Security Act in allowing the use of the word "Allah" in Christian texts with restrictions, it has met with opposition from the Syariah Lawyers Association.

- Malaysiakini


The Malaysian Islamic Da'wah Foundation (Yadim) today called on the government to withdraw the permission for the conditional use of the word "Allah" in Christian publications.

Its chairman Datuk Mohd Nakhaie Ahmad said the government had not acted wisely in allowing the use of the word in Christian publications, which he said could anger Muslims not only in the country but also throughout the world.

He said the government should have left the matter for the court to decide.

"To me, it's a mistake," he told reporters after opening a halal carnival here Saturday.

A government gazette dated Feb 16 has stated that documents and publications relating to Christianity containing the world "Allah" are prohibited unless the words "FOR CHRISTIANITY" are written on their front covers.

The condition was contained under the Internal Security (Prohibition on Use of Specific Words on Document and Publication) Order 2009.

Paragraph 2(1) of the order reads: The printing, publication, sale, issue, circulation and possession of any document and publication relating to Christianity containing the words "Allah", "Kaabah, "Baitullah" and "solat" are prohibited unless on the front cover of the document and publication are written with the words "FOR CHRISTIANITY".

- Bernama


'Flip Flop' Home Ministry rescinds gazette on word “Allah”

KOTA KINABALU: The Home Ministry has rescinded a government gazette that allowed conditional use of the word "Allah" in Christian publications with immediate effect.

Admitting that there was a mistake in enacting the gazette that had resulted in confusion over the word in question, Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said the government's decision to ban the use of the word 'Allah' in Herald - The Catholic Weekly remained in force until the court decided otherwise.

The government had recently ordered a ban on the Herald's Malay edition until the court makes its decision, as part of conditions for it to be allowed to continue publishing in English, Chinese and Tamil.

"There is a judicial review on the matter and we leave it to the court to decide. I think there was a mistake in enacting the gazette. When we make a mistake, I must admit that there is a need look at it thoroughly.

"As there was a mistake...so it is better we make a correction," he told reporters, here on Saturday. Syed Hamid was commenting on the call by the Malaysian Islamic Da'wah Foundation (Yadim) earlier Saturday, urging the government to withdraw permission for the conditional use of the word "Allah" in Christian publications.

Its chairman Datuk Mohd Nakhaie Ahmad said the government had not acted wisely in allowing the use of the word in Christian publications which he said could anger Muslims not only in the country but also throughout the world.

A government gazette dated Feb 16 has stated that documents and publications relating to Christianity containing the world "Allah" are prohibited unless the words "FOR CHRISTIANITY" was written on their front covers.

The condition was contained in an order entitled 'Internal Security (Prohibition on Use of Specific Words on Document and Publication) Order 2009'.

Paragraph 2(1) of the order reads: The printing, publication, sale, issue, circulation and possession of any document and publication relating to Christianity containing the words Allah, Kaabah, Baitullah and solat are prohibited unless on the front cover of the document and publication are written with the words "FOR CHRISTIANITY".