Kedahs Allah ban against cabinet decision

Posted on 23 July 2013 - 08:21am

Michelle Chun newsdesk@thesundaily.com

PETALING JAYA (July 22, 2013): Kedah's decision to ban the use of the word "Allah" in non-Muslim holy books contradicts the 2011 cabinet decision allowing Bibles of all languages to be used in the country, former Malaysian Bar president Datuk Param Cumaraswamy (pix) said today. The former United Nations special rapporteur on the independence of lawyers and judges claimed the action by Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir amounted to non-compliance of the cabinet's 10-point solution to addressing the Bahasa Malaysia/Indonesia Bible and other related issues. "The action taken by the Kedah mentri besar to ban the use of the word 'Allah' in the state in non-Muslim holy books last week smacks at the 2011 cabinet decision. "The decision was made following the impounding of the translated Bibles in Kuching and Port Klang two years earlier by the authorities for the use of the word 'Allah' in the translated versions," he told theSun today. The cabinet's decision on April 2, 2011 was documented in a letter addressed to the Christian Federation of Malaysia chairman Bishop Ng Moon Hing and signed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak. In the letter, Najib had said taking into account the polarity of views of the different religious groups and following discussions with Christian groups, the government had decided on the 10-point solution. "I wish to confirm that this is a collective decision by the cabinet," he had said. The two-page document listed, among others, that Bibles in all languages can be imported into the country and printed locally in both Peninsular and East Malaysia with no conditions attached, except that Bibles in Bahasa Malaysia or Bahasa Indonesia must have the words "Christian Publication" and the cross sign printed on the front covers. Cumaraswamy said the government also issued a directive through the Home Ministry secretary-general to all government departments for proper implementation of the decision, "obviously meaning uniform implementation of the decision with sanctions of disciplinary action for non-compliance". "In the light of such a decision and direction, it appears that Mukhriz should be called upon by the federal government to show cause for non-compliance of the federal decision."

"It was just not a premature move on the mentri besar's part while the issue is pending before the Court of Appeal, but he seems to have defied the cabinet decision on the matter, by imposing a blanket ban. "Does that mean even those translated Bibles impounded and released in 2011 cannot be used in Kedah?" he asked, as the Bibles impounded then had been released free of charge.

Kedah govt forbids use of word 'Allah' by nonMuslims

Posted on 16 July 2013 - 04:55pm

Menteri Besar Kedah, Datuk Mukhriz Tun Dr Mahathir at the Pusat Transformasi Bandar (UTC) Kedah, July 15, 2013. BERNAMA

JITRA (July 16, 2013): The Kedah government today stressed that it did not allow the word "Allah" to be used by non-Muslims in their holy books. Menteri Besar Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir in stating the state government's stand, also warned that stern action would be taken against those involved "as they are insensitive to the majority of the country's population who are Muslims". "The state government will not compromise on the misuse of the 'kalimah Allah' by non-Muslims," he said after handing out contributions to 372 volunteer Quran teachers, village midwives and mudin from the Kubang Pasu district at the Wang Tepus Mosque, near here, yesterday evening.

Mukhriz stressed that the word "Allah" was only for Muslims and its meaning in Islam could not be otherwise to mean god in general, and what more as "lord", which means master in the Malay language. He viewed non-Muslims bent on using the word "Allah" in the Malay language version of the Bible as not having good intentions towards Muslims, besides trying to confuse young Muslims. "We cannot accept their excuses because hidden behind those excuses is the aim of turning Muslims into disbelievers of the religion," said Mukhriz, who also reminded Muslims to give a clear message to outsiders who were supporting the use of the "kalimah Allah" in the Malay language version of the Bible. Recently, the Vatican City's envoy, Bishop Joseph Marino made a statement in support of the move by non-Muslims which many quarters deemed inappropriate. Mukhrz also wanted Muslims to send a clear message that they did not tolerate individuals who mocked the holy month of Ramadan, which was done deliberately. "In a multiracial and multireligious country, we cannot be playing around with the religion of others as religion is a sensitive issue. "Who indoctrinated them to the extent that they were willing to mock Ramadan, especiallly in a Muslim-majority country? I don't understand how this could have happened," he said in reference to a couple, Alvin Tan and Vivian Lee, who mocked Muslims and Ramadan in their Facebook page. The two have been hauled up by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission to give their statement. Mukhriz urged that stern action be taken against the offending couple as a deterrent for them and others. Bernama