Malaysia reverses Allah paper ban

Ray · 12-30-2007, 22:10 PM

Quote:

Malaysia reverses Allah paper ban

By Robin Brant
BBC News, Kuala Lumpur

The Malaysian government has reversed a decision to ban a Christian newspaper using the word Allah to refer to God.

The government had threatened to refuse to give the Weekly Herald a publishing permit if it continued to use the word.

The paper's editor said the word had long been used by Christians to refer to God in the Malay language.

The ruling was immediately condemned by civil rights and Christian groups in Malaysia, who said it infringed their right to practice their religion.

But Malaysia's internal security department demanded the word be removed, saying only Muslims could use it.

'Over-zealous ministers'

Now the government has back-tracked.

In a fax to the Herald's editor, the government says it will get its 2008 permit, with no conditions attached.

Father Andrew Lawrence told the BBC he was delighted, saying prayers had been answered.

He blamed politics and a general election expected here in 2008 year for what he said were the actions of a few over-zealous ministers in the Muslim-dominated Malay government.

Religious issues are highly sensitive in Malaysia, which has a 60% Muslim population.

Religious freedom is guaranteed in the law but minority groups have accused the Muslim Malay majority of trying to increase the role of Islam in the country.

BBC NEWS | Asia-Pacific | Malaysia reverses Allah paper ban

Allah does represent the word God.

Though I think the word "Allah" specifically means the God worshipped in Islam alone (the True God, so to say, since Islam is claimed to be the last word of God as given by the Last and Final Prophet who had come to Earth).

For other Gods or all encompassing the Supernatural Supreme Being, the word, I believe is "Khuda".

That is why of late ever since the WoT, the words "Khuda Hafiz" (May God look after you) has been changed to "Allah Hafiz".

Hence, the Malaysian ministers who objected to the word "Allah", may have a point as far as the Islamic interpretation goes.

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