Muslim Councils’ Applications to Intervene in Herald Case

Comment: Amazing! So many Muslim Councils rushing to join the fray. Perhaps they are nervous about losing their case and seek assurance in numbers. It would have been so much simpler if people concerned just allow the two immediate parties involved in the suit to calmly and rationally argue their case. Surely it can’t be the case that 10+ Muslim councils are each presenting its own unique argument? Indeed, judging from eyewitness report describing the atmosphere at the court, It seems to me that some Muslim are more propelled by emotions than by rational and respectful argumentation.

More likely, and more disturbingly, the flood of applications, or rather the inflated crowd at the court is a show of force to intimidate the Catholic Church or the honorable judge.

MCCBCHST Press Statement on Burial of Alleged Muslim Convert

Family fails in bid to stop burial, convert buried as a Muslim
By K. KASTURI DEWI
THE STAR Tuesday July 8, 2008

GEORGE TOWN: The family of a 34-year-old man, who had supposedly converted to Islam, has failed to stop the Perak Islamic Religious Affairs Department from burying him as a Muslim. The High Court yesterday dismissed an Erinford injunction application by B. Elangesvaran’s stepbrother to stop his body from being removed from the Parit Buntar hospital mortuary. It was learnt that Elangesvaran was buried at the Parit Buntar Muslim cemetery last night.

Worse Than Grave Robbers

Horrors! The Body Snatchers Strike Again!

Everybody instinctively recoils with disgust at the thought of grave robbers desecrating graves in the hope of finding some precious items buried alongside the body of the deceased. Grave robbers are naturally punished should they be caught. Still, at least these grave robbers (or grave burglars,since they carry out the crime secretly) leave the dead bodies alone. How much more disgust we all should feel when Islamic officials arrogantly carry out their robbery of dead bodies in broad daylight.

Allah and Bible Translation Again: New Light from an Ancient Manuscript

Allah and Bible Translation Again: New Light from an Ancient Manuscript

As expected, the hearing of the application by the Sidang Injil Borneo (Borneo Evangelical Church) Sabah for leave to sue the government over the right Christians to use the word “Allah” was adjourned to 7 Aug.

It is most interesting that it is the government officials who keep asking for postponement of the court hearing. I think the government knows that its policy of banning the use of the word ‘Allah’ by non-Muslims is just intellectually untenable, legally indefensible and morally embarrassing. Hence, it resorts to asking for postponement of both the SIB case and the Catholic Herald case on grounds of legal technicalities.

Read the full article at the following website http://krisispraxis.ath.cx

You can also read my earlier articles:

No one Religion can Monopolize or Copyright the Term ‘Allah’

‘Allah’ is for all Malay Speaking People in Nusantara

‘Allah’ and Linguistic Hegemony

The Semantics of the word ‘Allah’

PAS Pushing for ‘Hardline Islamic Laws’: Beware When the Tiger Unsheath its Hidden Claws

I am not surprised when PAS starts pushing for ‘hardline Islamic laws’; it’s only a matter of time. But PAS making its move so soon?- and it is just 3 months since the last election. Perhaps hubris of unexpected victory has overtaken PAS’ shrewed strategic schemes that so far manage to hide its covert agenda for the Islamic state (which was euphemistically described as the ‘welfare state’ in its election manifesto). Let’s take seriously the warning, “He who dines with PAS must use a very long spoon”

Has PAS Really Gone ‘Moderate’ on Islam?

PAS supposedly has dropped its demands for an Islamic State in order to become electable. Has it? It is too soon to tell, but maybe the following report from Associated Press ,and the comments from the PAS official should give us some reasons to be cautious. Clue - take a look at how the Islamic Party gains power in Turkey.

Church Can Seek To Nullify Govt Ban On Allah Word

Church Can Seek To Nullify Govt Ban On Allah Word

MySinChew.com (2008-04-29 18:07)

KUALA LUMPUR: The government wants the High Court of Kuala Lumpur to throw out the suit by the Roman Catholic Church here to defend its right to use the word “Allah” in its weekly publication on grounds that it is irregular, misconceived, and an abuse of the process of the court.

However, Federal Counsels representing the government have no objection to the church’s application to get the court to declare the government’s prohibition over the Allah word null and void.

Malays Denied of Religious Freedom Enshrined in Article 11 of Federal Constitution

Raja Aziz Addruse: Let’s have certainty in this law
NEW STRAITS TIMES Sunday, 27 April 2008

KAMARIAH Ali, one of the followers of the Sky Kingdom sect led by Ayah Pin, was convicted of apostasy by the Terengganu Syariah Court on Feb 17, 2008.
Her long and futile legal struggle highlights the need to seriously address the constitutional issue of the right of Muslims to freedom of religion.

Kamariah had years earlier been convicted of deviant practices in the syariah court and sentenced to 20 months’ jail. Her appeal against the conviction was dismissed but her sentence was suspended on condition that she appear before the Kadi’s Court every month for three years to declare her repentance.

‘Allah vs God

I just received a news update on the court case regarding the prohibition of the use of ‘Allah’ in non-Muslim media:

The Minister for Internal Security issued a Publication Permit dated 12th February 2008 (for the period 1st January 2008 until 31st December 2008 to the Titular Roman Catholic Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur, the Publisher of the ‘ HERALD - The Catholic Weekly’ stating that the Publication Permit is subject to a “Garis Panduan Penerbitan” which prohibits the Publisher from using the word ALLAH in the HERALD - The Catholic Weekly.

The decision of the Minister for Internal Security was unacceptable and on 19th March 2008, an Application for Judicial Review was filed in the Kuala Lumpur High Court to challenge the decision of the Minister. The first state of the Application for Judicial Review (i.e. to seek leave or permission to proceed) is fixed for hearing at 9.00am on 25th April 2008. Archbishop Murphy Pakiam will be in the High Court for the hearing.

SOCIAL CONTRACT AND THE SPECIAL POSITION OF THE MALAYS

SOCIAL CONTRACT AND THE SPECIAL POSITION OF THE MALAYS

Some observations on the Historical Context,1 April 2008

by Dr. Ng Kam Weng

(Excerpt)

Malay ethnic nationalists (UMNO politicians in particular) in the past usually avoided making reference to the Social Contract. But recently, these UMNO politicians seem to have overcome their reservations and are urging Malaysians to respect the Social Contract. What is the reason behind this new openness and acknowledgement of the Social Contract? A closer analysis of their speeches would reveal a not-so-subtle attempt to reinterpret the terms of the Social Contract to conform to their ideology of Malay dominance and supremacy. That is to say, these ethnic nationalists are attempting to hijack the Social Contract and disregard for the original intent of the Founding Fathers of the nation. In this case, citing a text without respecting the historical context becomes merely a pretext for ideological manipulation of history.