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.

Responses to Proposal that non-Muslims be Punished for Khalwat

‘Punishing non-Muslims for khalwat Against Constitution’
Source: THE STAR ( Friday 4 April 2008)
PETALING JAYA: It is unconstitutional to punish non-Muslims for committing khalwat (close proximity) as there is no provision in law for it.

Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism, and Taoism president Datuk A. Vaithilingam said yesterday that Article 121(A) of the Constitution allowed for separation between the Civil and Syariah courts.

“Khalwat is not recognised (as an offence) under civil law.

“It is not wrong for non-Muslims. Syariah law is only applicable to Muslims,” he said yesterday.

Proposal to Prosecute non-Muslims for Khalwat

From the STAR Wednesday, 03 April 2008 by Izatun Shari

KUALA LUMPUR: A seminar on Syariah Law review wants non-Muslims found committing khalwat (close proximity) with Muslims to also be held liable.

This was among the proposals made at the two-day seminar organised by the Islamic Institute of Understanding Malaysia (Ikim) and the Syariah Judiciary Department Malaysia.

Syariah Court of Appeal Judge Datuk Mohd Asri Abdullah said the seminar had proposed that non-Muslims committing khalwat with Muslims should also be sentenced accordingly, but in the civil courts.