LETTER | Stop politicising 'Allah' issue and move on to more pressing matters

LETTER | It seems like while our neighbours like Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines are progressing at a rapid pace, we are sadly regressing and focusing our attention on non-issues.

Though I may not be a politician, I can be pretty sure the cabinet members have more important, pressing issues to focus on.

Following the devastation of the Covid-19 pandemic, we still have plenty of rebuilding to do and our economy is still on very shaky ground.

As a Christian and a voter, I must say I find it rather shocking and disheartening to once again read that the use of the word "Allah" has become news.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and all Pakatan Harapan leaders alike must not forget that they are in Putrajaya today because voters of all races and religions voted for them and not just one particular race.

For some time now, it appears that the upcoming state elections are the centre of focus, judging from the six Hari Raya open houses to the string of goodies being announced for the states concerned.

Sadly, Anwar's reaction to the "Allah" issue also seems like he is only concerned about the outcome of the upcoming state elections.

As the prime minister, he should stand up for what the verdict states and not manipulate it to try and please certain individuals.

Do you really expect Christians from Sarawak to pray differently when they come to Peninsular Malaysia and not use the "Allah" word that they usually do in Sarawak?

Anwar should understand by now that he is not required to give off-the-cuff decisions and comments.

Some decisions can be deferred till after cabinet consultation and inputs from stakeholders.

Since when have leaders been required to give arbitrary decisions based on whims and fancies and the appeasement of vocal minorities?

No threat to anyone

Facts and evidence show that Sarawak Christians have been using the word "Allah" for a long long time and have proven to be no threat to anyone.

We should not build a phobia that doesn't exist. Nobody in Malaysia should try to limit anyone from practising their faith so long as they do not impose it on others.

Also, we must remember that more than 60 percent of Malaysian Christians only speak Bahasa Malaysia, and the word used for God in the Bahasa Malaysia Bible (AlKitab) since its translation in 1731, is "Allah".

The word is used by bumiputera Christians who only have BM as their common language in Sabah, Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia, and by the Baba community in Malacca.

From the very beginning, the word "Allah" has been used in the liturgy, prayers and worship of those Christians who speak BM. But for centuries, there has been no opposition or uproar about their use of "Allah".

Objections to the use of the word "Allah" comes mostly from political discourse, and because many do not understand the issue at hand.

Biblical references

In the Malay language, "Allah" means God and Tuhan means "Lord". As is obvious when we read the bible, both God and Lord are used in the Bible, and both have different connotations. Therefore "Allah" cannot be substituted by "Tuhan".

The word "Tuhan" has been applied to Jesus Christ and read as Tuhan Yesus. If Christians are to substitute the word "Allah" for Tuhan, it will render many biblical references to God and Jesus incoherent because the meanings of "Allah" and "Tuhan" are different.

Being denied the use of the word "Allah" disregards the constitutional right of Malaysian citizens to freedom of religion under the Federal Constitution.

Article 11 of the Federal Constitution safeguards the right of each Malaysian to profess and practise one’s religion of choice, while Article 11(3) expressly provides that every religious group has the right to manage their own religious affairs.

Arguments that Christians in Malaysia refuse to stop using the word "Allah" because they want to confuse and convert Muslims, thereby posing a threat to national security, are totally unfounded and baseless.

The claim is ridiculous as there has been no evidence offered of any threat to security.

Legally, since there is no appeal, the High Court’s ruling applies and it is not just for Sarawak only.

The court did not say it was for Sarawak only and while the prime minister can say it is for Sarawak only, it will not stick in court.

Anybody now can use the word "Allah" and the court has made it permissible to do so.

The banning of the word is ultra vires the Federal Constitution of freedom of practising one’s religion. That is what this means at this stage and someone should please advise Anwar before he shoots off his mouth.

Stop trying to win brownie points for the upcoming state elections and please stop being a "jaguh kampung" for a certain community.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.