Malaysian Bishop Laments 'Allah' Ban Says Church Holds Firm on Minority Rights

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: January 06, 2010, (PCTV Newsdesk)

A Malaysian bishop isunderlining the rights of minority religions faced to the controversy overa ban prohibiting non-Muslims from using the word "Allah."

Bishop Paul Tan Chee Ing of the Melaka-Johor Diocese in Malaysia told ZENIT that the controversy over the use of the word "Allah," as well asother Arabic words, is "not a linguistic battle."

Rather, he said, it is a political "battle for votes."

On Dec. 31, the Kuala Lumpur High Court overruled the ban, which wasinstated three years ago, affirming that it was unconstitutional and thatthe word "Allah" is not exclusive to Islam. It granted the Catholic Herald,which was using the word as a translation for God in the Malay languagesection of the periodical, permission to print "Allah."

However, today the decision was suspended after days of protests.Meanwhile, the Home Ministry is appealing the act in an attempt to upholdthe ban.

Muslim groups are protesting that Christians and other minorities shouldnot use "Allah" for "fear of confusing Muslims," the Herald reported today.

Muslims constitute some 60% of the country's 28 million people.

Pre-Islamic

Bishop Paul Tan Chee Ing explained that the debate has a definitepolitical tone, as the ruling party "is afraid of losing the Malay votes,which make up of about 60% of the population."

He added, "In Malaysia, unfortunately, Malay is identified with Muslims --the only country in the world where religion is tied to a race in theconstitution."

Yet in the Quran, the bishop pointed out, "it is said that Jews,Christians, Sabeans and Muslims worship Allah."

He continued: "How can a Muslim go against its Holy Quran? Not possible.

"It is due to sheer ignorance or due to some political expediency. Anyobjective scholar can tell you that the word 'Allah' is pre-Islamic. It hasits root in the Semitic language."

Not all Malay-Muslims are against non-Muslims using the word, Bishop TanChee Ing clarified, as long as it is not being "abused."

Those who are sparking the controversy, he said, are acting "due toignorance or motivated by political biases or for some personal gains."

The "public declaration that non-Muslims can use the word 'Allah' is acontradiction to what the National Fatwa Council issued," the bishopaffirmed, and "contradiction is another game for playing politics."

Non-Muslim rights

In the midst of this, he said, "the Church's stand should be calm, firm inits stand for the rights of non-Muslims as enshrined in our federalconstitution."

We must "cooperate with all reasonable persons, try to keep harmony by notprovoking the other side with words or actions and not putting them downthose who want to stop non-Muslims from using the word," the prelate said.

"It is a tightrope walk," he affirmed.

Bishop Tan Chee Ing told ZENIT that despite the current issues, the Churchin his country is "very stable, united and strong."

"Our ecumenical movement and interreligious cooperation have been good inspite of a few hiccups here and there," he said.

Although statistics are showing that the Catholic population is stagnantin numbers, the bishop acknowledged, this is due to the fact that "Chineseand Indian Catholics tend to have fewer children than the Malays."

As well, he continued, "their children are sent abroad to study because ofdiscrimination against them in the universities and many of them do notreturn to Malaysia because of the fear of being discriminated."

Stand for truth

"In spite of all this," the prelate affirmed, "the churches are generallyfull to their capacity with men, women and children."

He continued: "It is a vibrant Church. The local Church has been reachingout to help other poorer dioceses in other countries."

Bishop Tan Chee Ing reported that the people of his diocese, "in spite ofthe fact that we are not rich," has been sending money to the Church inKenya, Myanmar and Laos.

"This is in imitation of the earliest Catholic Church during the apostolictimes," he affirmed.

The prelate continued: "We have also cooperated with the Protestants andeven the Buddhists, Sikhs and Hindus.

"The one contribution we can offer to the Universal Church is standing upfor the truth and the rights of people against all odds because we knowthat God who is the Lord of history, sees and knows all and will in histime and in his way right what is wrong. Patience!"

News source: www.zenit.org