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Malaysia Islamic Authority Imposing Restrictions On Non-Muslims In ‘Allah’ Row, Says Interfaith Group

Gyani Jarnail Singh

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Islamic authority imposing restrictions on non-Muslims in ‘Allah’ row, says interfaith group


http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/...n-muslims-in-allah-row-says-interfaith-group/

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 5 — A non-Muslim interfaith group chided today the Selangor Islamic Council (MAIS) and a former top judge for trying to control the rights of Malaysia’s religious minorities in the tussle over “Allah”, which they said was against the country’s highest law.

The Malaysian Consultative Council Of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) was weighing in on recent statements issued by MAIS and ex-Chief Justice Tun Ahmad Fairuz Sheik Abdul Halim, barring non-Muslims from calling their gods “Allah”.

“This is tantamount to imposition of restrictions by an lslamic Council or body against non-Muslims. It could also be seen as an attempt to control the religious practice of a non-Muslim religion by an lslamic body or organisation,” it said in a statement today.

The council warned against the “unhealthy practice” of pushing the idea that non-Muslims were bound by a fatwa or ruling from Islamic bodies like MAIS, saying it could spark religious tension.

“Any attempt to govern non-Muslims or interfere with non-Muslims’ practise of their religion by any Muslim body must be stopped immediately. It would be against the Federal Constitution. This unhealthy practice could also lead to unwanted social repercussions and raising of tensions between communities,” it added.

The statement was signed by Tan Hoe Chieow who is MCCBCHST president and head of Taoism here; deputy president Jagir Singh for the Malaysian Gurdwara Council; and Sing Kan and Prematilaka KD Serisena for Buddhism; and Rev Thomas Philips for Christianity; Datuk RS Mohan Shan for Hinduism.

The non-Muslim interfaith group said there are no laws, whether at federal or state level, to impose rulings or fatwa on non-Muslims.

It stressed that the only law applicable to non-Muslims was laid in Article 11(4) of the Federal Constitution, which restricted them from preaching their religious doctrine or belief to Muslims.

MCCBCHST said no non-Muslim was disputing Islam’s position as the religion of the federation.

It urged Muslims who disagreed that non-Muslims had a right to call their gods “Allah” to read the Constitution carefully and holistically, pointing to Articles 3(4) and 11(4).

Referring to Ahmad Fairuz, the group said it failed to understand “how the former Chief Justice could overlook the fact that all the enactments of the 10 states are made under Article 11(4) of the Federal Constitution, and that Article 11(4) only provides for the control or propagation of any religious doctrine or belief amongst persons professing the religion of lslam.”

“This article does not forbid other religions from propagating to their adherents.

“In other words, if you do not profess or practise lslam, then no restrictions may be placed on you as to how you practise your religion,” MCCBCHST said, adding every religious group has the right to manage its own religious affairs.

The interfaith group also said the High Court had in 2009 ruled that provisions in state enactments forbidding the use of certain words by non-Muslims is unconstitutional.

It added that it supported the decision of non-Muslims to continue to use “Allah” for their gods as found in the holy books.

The “Allah” row, which first erupted shortly after Election 2008, is again in the spotlight in the run-up to Election 2013 and is threatening to drive a wedge between non-Muslims and the Malay-Muslim community who form 60 per cent of Malaysia’s 28 million population.
 

Gyani Jarnail Singh

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Don’t pour oil on ‘Allah’ flames, Hasan Ali tells MCCBCHST


By Debra Chong
Assistant News Editor
February 06, 2013
0602hasanali.jpg
Hasan Ali insisted that such use of the word ‘Allah’ by non-Muslims should not be allowed in peninsular Malaysia. – File pic

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 6 -- Lawmaker Datuk Hasan Ali warned today the country’s main non-Muslim interfaith council against adding more fuel to the “Allah” debate that has already inflamed tensions nationwide, a day after the group accused Selangor’s Islamic authority of attempting to curb their religious rights. The Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) has yesterday chided the Selangor Islamic Council (MAIS) and a former top judge for trying to control the rights of Malaysia’s religious minorities in the tussle over “Allah”, which they said was unconstitutional.
“Properly, the MCCBCHST which is represented by those with authority and learned in the nation’s social culture should not pour oil on fire that is starting to flare.
“The wisdom that is in the MCCBCHST leaders should be used properly to determine the peace and harmony that have been and is being enjoyed will continue to be enjoyed by future generations,” the Independent Gombak Setia assemblyman said in a statement today.
Hasan also urged the council not to involve itself in “unhealthy political games” but to advise the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) federal opposition, which supports the right of non-Muslims to call their gods “Allah”, which many Muslims here believe is exclusive to Islam.
“It is suggested the MCCBCHST should not entrap themselves in unhealthy political games.
“They should instead take a positive attitude and find the best way, or at least, advise the Pakatan Rakyat political leadership to be reasonable and to study if their actions for short-term political gains can guarantee a peaceful racial and religious relation in the long run,” he said.
The president of right-wing Malay group Jalur Tiga (Jati) lashed out at the interfaith council, saying it had failed to take into account that non religious adherent, including Christians, had never applied to use the word “Allah” for their gods.
“The MCCBCHST should understand that the federal and state governments, including the Islamic bodies have never tried to control non-Muslims or disturb their religious practices,” he said.
Hasan, a self-described champion of Malays and Islamic, said the “Allah” row only started recently, in the run-up to Election 2013 and questioned the motive for non-Muslims to demand to the right to call their gods by the Arabic word.
“Only recently with GE13 approaching, the Allah issue is being raised which to this day has never been explained the real motive behind that application,” he said.
While he acknowledged that Christian Bumiputeras in Sabah and Sarawak had the right to use the Arabic word to refer to their god, as they had been doing so for a long time, he insisted that such use should not be allowed in peninsular Malaysia.
“What is happening is an attempt by those irresponsible to go against existing limits by asking for the word Allah that is the exclusive right of Muslims to also be used by non-Muslims,” he said.
“This is in truth an unhealthy practice that can cause tension among races and religion,” he added.
The “Allah” row, which first erupted shortly after Election 2008, is again in the spotlight in the run-up to Election 2013 and is threatening to drive a wedge between non-Muslims and the Malay-Muslim community who form 60 per cent of Malaysia’s 28 million population.
Sikhs too use the word ‘Allah” in their holy book, but Christians in Malaysia make up just under 10 per cent of the total population, and most of them hail from Sarawak and Sabah where worship is conducted in Bahasa Malaysia or their native languages that use the word “Allah” to refer to “God the Father” in the Christian belief of god as a trinity.






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kds1980

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Apr 3, 2005
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It is an amazing thing... time and again "peace and harmony" are defined as do not go against the muslim sentiments. The responsibility for peace and harmony falls on the shoulders of everyone else.

Islam is typical example of how violent and aggressive get the most in this world.
and whatever they crime commit , the anti religion people use them to bash religion.
 

Gyani Jarnail Singh

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From what I know Allah is an Arabic word for God and even Christians call God as Allah in Arabic.
If that is true then there can be no monopoly over this word.

Brother..what you know..what I know..what everyone else knows..makes no difference...its what"they" know or want to know or dont want to know..that matters. sad state of affairs...which is happening worldwide...citizens everywhere must wake up and take back their rights or else it will be too late.
 
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