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YAHOO! NEWS MALAYSIA
Federal Court decision on Allah only for Herald, says Putrajaya
The Malaysian Insider
Putrajaya said that today’s Federal Court ruling on the Allah issue applied only to the Catholic weekly, Herald.
Malaysian Christians can still use the word Allah in church and the government remains committed to the 10-point solution, a statement from Putrajaya said.
“Malaysia is a multi-faith country and it is important that differences are managed peacefully in accordance with the rule of law and through dialogue, mutual respect and compromise,” it said.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Idris Jala had previously insisted that Putrajaya confirmed the validity of the 10-point solution, which was announced in April 2011.
“The 10-Point solution was established by the Federal Government as a fair and amicable way to manage the polarity of views between the various religious groups, in particular Christians and Muslims, taking into account the laws of the country.
“As stated in the 10-Point Solution, for Sabah and Sarawak, there is no restriction on the import and local printing of Bibles in any language, including Bahasa Malaysia/Bahasa Indonesia and indigenous languages (referred to collectively as the “AlKitab”), as the Government recognises that there is a large Christian community of indigenous origin in these two states,” he had said in a statement issued on February 24.
https://my.news.yahoo.com/federal-court-decision-allah-only-herald-says-putrajaya-103148129.html
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http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/266509
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Malaysiakini
9:57AM Jun 23, 2014
End of the road for Church’s ‘Allah’ appeal
The seven-member panel of the Federal Court today refused to grant leave to hear the appeal by the Archbishop Catholic Church in the ‘Allah’ case.
This follows a majority decision of at least four judges, led by Chief Justice Arifin Zakaria, today in not allowing leave.
The judges for Justice Arifin are Court of Appeal President Md Raus Sharif, Chief Judge of Malaya Zulkefli Ahmad Makinuddin and Federal Court judge Suriyadi Halim Omar.
With today’s decision, the Archbishop’s appeal for Catholic Weekly ‘The Herald’ ends and the Court of Appeal decision is upheld.
Presently, Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Richard Malanjum is reading his dissenting judgment.
Justice Arifin was the first judge who read the majority decision.
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/266509
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Catholic weekly The Herald cannot use the word ‘Allah’ in the publication to refer to ‘God’.
ALLAH ISSUE: Summary of Judgment, Court of Appeal
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Malaysia Chronicle
Wednesday, 05 March 2014 17:42
‘LYNCH THAT CHINESE’ : Show of racism to cow non-Muslims, while Dr M’s daughter offers ALLAH excuses
KUALA LUMPUR – A stark contrast from the scene 35 kilometres away, a small group of people held up placards today with messages such as “God is one” and “We are brothers and sisters” in the centre of a shopping mall, and handed out purple balloons and flowers. All smiles, with no shouting at all.
The two groups, though with very different agendas, were expecting the Federal Court’s decision on whether the Catholic Church has grounds to appeal the Court of Appeal’s ruling, which overturned a High Court ruling from 2009 allowing the Catholic paper, Herald, to use the word “Allah” as a constitutional right.
“We want to provide a counterpoint to the nasty faces outside the court.
“They can muscle 12 buses of people but we can’t, we’re sick of the ugliness and the hatred,” said Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir, as she held a purple balloon and a placard that read, “We all answer to Allah”.
The eldest daughter of former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is part of the Malaysians for Malaysia that has been organising the walks in the park in KL, Penang, and Klang. A walk is planned to take place in Ipoh later this week.
Marina Mahathir holds a placard during the ‘Flashmob for Peace’ gathering in Kuala Lumpur today
A small group held purple balloons and placards with messages such as ‘God is one’ and ‘
We are brothers and sisters’ during the ‘Flashmob for Peace’ gathering in Kuala Lumpur today.
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Star
Wednesday March 5, 2014 MYT 2:15:10 PM
Federal Court reserves judgement in ‘Allah’ case
PUTRAJAYA: The Federal Court has reserved judgement in the leave application by Catholic weekly The Herald to challenge the Home Ministry over the ban on the use of the word “Allah”.
http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2014/03/05/Federal-Court-reserves-ruling-in-Allah-case/
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NST
March 2014| last updated at 01:37PM
Federal Court reserves judgment on kalimah ‘Allah’ case
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Malaysiakini
A fracas erupted outside the Palace of Justice in Putrajaya today, where members from various Malay rights NGOs had gathered for the appeal hearing on the use of the term ‘Allah’.
About 11:15am, members of the crowd, who demanded that “Allah” be exclusive only to Muslims in Malaysia, tried to push through policemen guarding the entrance to enter the court lobby.
The crowd chanted “La ila ha Illalah (There is no God except Allah)” and marched in solidarity to pressure the policemen.
Perkasa leader Irwan Fahmi Ideris and the movement’s assistant secretary Norlizaizul Ismail tried to placate the crowd while the policemen held the crowd back.
But some leaders who asked those present to calm down and retreat were seen tugged away by the increasingly angry crowd.
The cause of the commotion was later attributed to a claim that representatives from human rights NGO Comango were allowed to enter the court lobby.
The crowd of about 500 people grew restless, having gathered outside the court since 8am, with banners.
Led by Perkasa’s Ibrahim Ali, they held prayers before spewing angry words at those who defended the right of non-Muslims to use the term ‘Allah’.
Shortly before the ruckus, they also recited prayers for the trial to end quickly.
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/256085
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Malaysiakini photos
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WEDNESDAY, 5 MARCH 2014
7:33AM Mar 5, 2014
Church: ‘Allah’ has been used since 18th century
While thousands of Christians in Malaysia pray and fast in the holy season of Lent which begins today, Ash Wednesday, they also wait with bated breath for the Federal Court hearing of the Catholic Church’s appeal over the use of the word ‘Allah’.
Likewise, Malay Muslim pressure groups such as Perkasa, Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma) and Jalur Tiga (Jati) are expected to converge at the Palace of Justice in Putrajaya – the home of the country’s highest court – to call on the judges to uphold the appellate court decision.
Lawyers for the archbishop of the Catholic Church are hoping to gain leave (permission) to appeal the Court of Appeal’s controversial decision last October barring the church from using ‘Allah’ in the Bahasa Malaysia section of its The Herald weekly.
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/256059
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Malaysiakini
The Court of Appeal has come under flak for its ruling to bar Catholic weekly The Herald from using ‘Allah’ to refer to God in its Malay edition.
Lawyer Syahredzan Johan said judges should stop being judges if they cannot ‘remember their oath to uphold the constitution’.
‘Judges should remember the oath they took to uphold the constitution. If they can’t do that, then stop being judges,’ Syahredzan tweeted shortly after the ruling was delivered this morning.
Former de facto law minister Zaid Ibrahim also waded into the discussion with sharp comments.
‘Judges need only to apply the law, but in Malaysia they have other extraneous duties to the people (and) to the politicians,’ he tweeted.
He criticised the court’s finding that the use of ‘Allah’ is not an integral part of the Christian faith.
“Now we have Muslim judges who are experts in Christian religion and theology. They must have spent sometime in the Vatican,” Zaid (right) tweeted with obvious sarcasm.
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‘Stop being judges if you can’t uphold constitution’
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Malaysiakini
Judge: ‘Allah’ ruling to protect Islam, Malays
The insertion of the words ‘in peace and harmony’ into Article 3(1) of the federal constitution should be interpreted as the need to protect the sanctity of Islam as the main religion of the country and to insulate it against any probable threats, reasoned a senior judge.
Newly-elevated Federal Court judge Justice Mohamed Apandi Ali said the insertion was a by-product of the social contract entered into by the nation’s founding fathers.
“It is my judgment that the most possible and probable threat to Islam, in the context of this country, is the propagation of other religions to the followers of Islam,” he said in his 43-page judgment in the case involving the Malay edition of Catholic weekly The Herald.
“That is the very reason as to why Article 11(4) of the federal constitution came into place.”
Judge: ‘Allah’ ruling to protect Islam, Malays
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Lawyers for the church, Porres Royan and S Selvarajah, indicated they would file an appeal within 30 days.
Porres said it is unfortunate that the issue has been politicised when in many parts of the world, other religious communities are using ‘Allah’.
“I have to study all three written judgments on whether the decision today is binding on all Christians, as what was read in court was just a summary of the decision,” he said.
Malaysiakini
It’s confirmed – Catholic weekly The Herald cannot use the word ‘Allah’ in the publication to refer to ‘God’.
The Court of Appeal in Putrajaya today unanimously over-ruled the landmark decision by the Kuala Lumpur High Court.
In an immediate response, The Herald editor Father Lawrence Andrew (left in photo) expressed disappointment, but said there are plans to lodge an appeal with the Federal Court.
Court says ‘No’ to use of ‘Allah’ in Catholic weekly
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Malaysian Insider
Allah issue, decision next month
The decision on the “Allah” issue will be delivered next month, Court of Appeal Judge Datuk Seri Mohamad Apandi Ali said today.
He said this after hearing submissions from the government lawyers, the Catholic Church and counsel representing Muslim groups in a packed courtroom.
Allah issue, decision next month
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Star
Tuesday September 10, 2013 MYT 11:39:19 AM
Big crowd gathers outside court as hearing on Allah case begins
Crowd outside Palace of Justice.
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PUTRAJAYA: A vocal crowd led by Perkasa chief Datuk Ibrahim Ali gathered outside the Palace of Justice as the hearing on the Government’s appeal in the Allah case began.
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Many protesters, including Perkasa and Perkid members, wore red t-shirts, which read ‘Allah: Just For Muslims. Fight No Fear’.
They sang religious songs and waved banners with slogans and also cries of ‘Hormat Islam’, and ‘Takbir Allah’.
Fallen Shah Alam candidate and Perkasa vice-president Datuk Zul Noordin also made an appearance, where he exhorted Muslims to defend their religion.
Big crowd gathers outside court as hearing on Allah case begins
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Malaysian Insider
Christian and Muslim groups converge on the Palace of Justice for Allah appeal
A Muslim group mistakenly sending a message against Jews outside the court building where the Court of Appeal is hearing the Allah case, between Catholic church and the government. The Malaysian Insider pic by Nazir Sufari, September 10, 2013.
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A crowd comprising Muslim and Christian groups have gathered outside the Court of Appeal as it hears Putrajaya’s appeal in the Allah case.
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Apart from Malay right wing group Perkasa and other Malay rights groups such as Pekida and Yayasan Dakwah Islam Malaysia (Yadim), several Christian groups from Sabah and Sarawak were in the crowd.
The representatives from the Christian groups identified by The Malaysian Insider included Sidang Injil Borneo Sabah, Sabah Council of Churches and the Association of Churches Sarawak.
The Council of Churches and the Christian Federation of Malaysia and the Sidang Injil Borneo Semenanjung representatives were also present.
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Malaysian Insider
Selangor Islamic authority heating up Allah issue outside court
While Putrajaya and the Catholic Church were in the Court of Appeal over the Allah issue, the Selangor Religious Affairs Department (MAIS) was distributing bulletins outside stating that Allah was exclusive to Muslims.
The 19-page bulletin contained several articles from the Umno-owned Malay newspaper, Utusan Malaysia, which stressed that the use of the word Allah was exclusive to Muslims.
The bulletin also published a statement from the Pertubuhan Pembela Islam (Pembela) who slammed the Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM) for not being sensitive towards Muslims in the country.
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MAIS which is under the purview of the Selangor Pakatan Rakyat government had earlier sparked a controversy after it had decreed that the word Allah is a holy word only to be used by Muslims and cannot be used by any other religion in Selangor, as stated in an edict on February 18, 2010.
The decision was approved by the Sultan of Selangor.
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Star
Monday September 9, 2013 MYT 6:23:44 PM
Father Lawrence: Don’t come to court, just pray
PETALING JAYA: Catholic priest Rev Father Lawrence Andrew has urged the public not to come to the court when the case over the usage of the word ‘Allah’ is heard in the Court of Appeal on Tuesday.
“The court room is very small and people won’t be able to enter. Many people will be disappointed. The best thing they can do is to pray,” said the editor of the Catholic Weekly Herald.
The court will listen to an appeal by the government and the Home Ministry on a 2009 High Court’s decision to lift the Ministry’s ban on the use of the word ‘Allah’ in the Herald.
Father Lawrence said it was difficult to predict the outcome of the case and leaves it to the court to make the judgement.
“We will just face the days as they come. I’m not terribly concerned,” he told the Star Online.
Father Lawrence: Don’t come to court, just pray
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Malaysian Insider
Putrajaya to argue non-Muslims using Allah will lead to public disorder
When the long-drawn battle on the right to use the word Allah returns to the courtroom on Tuesday, the Malaysian government will argue that there will be public disorder and unrest if the Court of Appeal allows non-Muslims to use the word.
Government affidavits sighted by The Malaysian Insider indicates that Putrajaya aims to rely on several arson attempts on churches and a sole incident when vandals tossed a pig’s head into a mosque to bolster their argument that there will be tension and trouble if the appeal court upholds a 2009 High Court ruling allowing the Catholic Church to use the word Allah.
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On Tuesday, lawyers appearing for the government will also scrutinise High Court judge Lau Bee Lan’s judgment, arguing that she erred in her ruling which allowed the Herald, the Catholic weekly, to use the word Allah in the Bahasa Malaysia section of the publication.
For the full article, click on
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Malaysia Chronicle
Saturday, 07 September 2013 08:01
Church leaders RUBBISH claims of Christian conspiracy to convert Muslim
KUALA LUMPUR, — Church leaders here were forced again to deny claims that the fight by Christians to use the word “Allah” is part of a covert strategy to convert Muslims here, an accusation that has intensified ahead of next Tuesday’s Court of Appeal hearing.
Catholic priest Father Lawrence Andrew rejected the idea of a Christian conspiracy to convert non-Christians, even reminding that many prominent leaders in the country had gone through the Catholic schools system without switching their religion.
“I would only comment on this idea of conspiring to convert people. It’s not true, many of the luminaries of the country, like Najib, Gani Patail, Rafidah, DPM have studied in Catholic schools, and they have not become Catholics and Christians,” the editor of the Catholic Church’s weekly Herald said when contacted today.
Lawrence was referring to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, the Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail, former minister Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz and the Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
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Yesterday, the International Muslim Consumer Association (IMCA) claimed that Malaysian Christians are insisting on using the word “Allah” to make Christianity more “palatable” to Malay Muslims and thus convert them.
But Rev Hermen Shastri, the secretary-general of the Council of Churches Malaysia (CCM), disagreed with the claim, pointing out that the word had been used by Malay-speaking Christians in east Malaysia in the practice of their religion.
“It is not true. The word has been used from the early times when the Bible was translated into Malay. And Christians in Sabah and Sarawak have been using the word for a long, long time,” he told The Malay Mail Online when contacted today.
“We have been using it all the time, why is it suddenly an issue?
“We are using it for our own community, it’s not used to convert Muslims,” he said, referring to the Christians in east Malaysia.
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Press Statements and Articles
| Title: | Allah-word & the Alkitab : Fact Sheet |
| Author: | Christian Federation Malaysia |
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Allah-word & the Alkitab : Fact Sheetby Bishop Ng Moon Hing (Christian Federation of Malaysia) This revised fact sheet is presented for the information of church leaders and church members in Malaysia with regards the term “Allah” and the Alkitab. We hope that this short non-exhaustive chronology will be helpful to all when asked by their friends to give an explanation of the Christian use of the term “Allah” and the historical publication of the Alkitab from its earliest beginnings to the present day. Download PDF document to read the rest of the article. |
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| [ Back ] [ Print Friendly ] | |
http://www.necf.org.my/newsmaster.cfm?&menuid=43&action=view&retrieveid=1178
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Malaysia Chronicle
Thursday, 22 August 2013 18:50
Christians shrug off talk of bias & growing Muslim extremism, confident of Sept 10 appeal proper
Written by Tan Su Mei, Wong Choon Mei, Malaysia Chronicle
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Malaysian Judiciary @MYJudiciary
Kalimah Allah: The CoA dismissed the application by the respondent. The case will go for hearing of the appeal proper. No order to cost.
Malaysian Insider
Catholic Church fails to strike out Putrajaya’s appeal, Allah appeal to proceed
The Catholic Church today failed in its bid to strike out an appeal by Putrajaya which wants to reverse a High Court ruling that allowed the church’s newspaper, the Herald, to use the word “Allah”.
This decision means that the Court of Appeal will now hear the appeal by the government against the High Court’s decision in December 2009 which then allowed the church to use the word in the newspaper that is published weekly.
That appeal is scheduled to be heard on September 10.
Catholic Church fails to strike out Putrajaya’s appeal, Allah appeal to proceed
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THURSDAY, 22 AUGUST 2013 IS D-DAY
Thursday’s court date is the latest one in the church’s stand that it should be allowed to use the word “Allah” in the Herald.
On Dec 31, 2009, High Court judge Lau Bee Lan allowed the church’s judicial review application and lifted the home minister’s ban, declaring that the minister’s ban was illegal.
The government appealed the decision which led to the church’s application to strike it out. – August 20, 2013.
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Malaysian Chronicle
Thursday, 22 August 2013 10:04
Muslim groups – some peaceful,some aggressive – gather as Court hears Allah strike-out bid
Written by Wong Choon Mei, Tan Su Mei, Malaysia Chronicle
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As expected’ Perkasa and the Muslim Organisations in Defence of Islam (Pembela) are gathered outside the Palace of Justice.
Several clerics were there, led by Father Lawrence from the Kuala Lumpur archdiocese.
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Malayiakini
Some 150 people comprising both Islamic NGOs and Christian groups gathered outside the Palace of Justice this morning in Putrajaya as the Court of Appeal begins hearing the ‘Allah’ case.
Catholic Archbishop Murphy Pakiam has applied to the appellate court to strike out the government’s appeal over the use of the word ‘Allah’ in the Bahasa Malaysia version of the bibles.
Among the NGOs present were right-wing group Perkasa and the Muslim Organisations in Defence of Islam (Pembela).
Also seen were former PAS deputy president Nasharuddin Mat Isa and Perkasa vice-president Zulkifli Nordin and Herald weekly editor Father Lawrence Andrew.
They had gathered there as early as 8am in front of the court complex while awaiting for the court proceedings to kick off.
Crowd gathers as court hears ‘Allah’ appeal
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Malaysian Insider
Church’s move to strike out government’s appeal lacks merit, says Hishammuddin
Putrajaya has taken the position that the Government’s 10-point solution in 2011 has nothing to do with its appeal to reverse a High Court ruling which allowed Christians to use the word “Allah” in the church newspaper, the Herald.
It said the Cabinet decision on April 11, 2011 was only to find ways to overcome problems relating to the import, printing, distribution and the use of the Bahasa Malaysia bible in the country.
“The 10-point solution in no way affects the appeal by the government on the usage of the word “Allah,” said former Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein in an affidavit in reply to an application by the Titular Roman Catholic Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur to set aside the government’s appeal.
Church’s move to strike out government’s appeal lacks merit, says Hishammuddin
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Malaysiakini
The Catholic Church has urged all parties to cease commenting on the use of ‘Allah’ by non-Muslims while a court decision is pending, for fear of sparking unrest.
Reverend Father Jestus Pereira, Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur, said such statements “are stoking racial sentiments and creating religious tension” in Malaysia.
“We humbly request all parties to respectfully allow the judicial process to take its course and urge the relevant authorities to take the necessary steps to prevent any untoward incident,” Father Pereira said in a statement.
He said the church was also “gravely concerned” about recent statements.
“We exhort all to pray that peace and good sense will prevail,” he added.
Church fears ‘Allah’ statements could cause unrest
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Malaysia Chronicle
Tuesday, 20 August 2013 08:32
ALLAH CASE: Perkasa to demonstrate against Catholic Church on Thurs
KUALA LUMPUR — Catholic Arcbishop Tan Sri Murphy Pakiam should brace himself this Thursday should he decide to attend the court hearing to defend the Church’s right to use “Allah”.
Perkasa and other Muslim groups said today they will demonstrate against the Catholic Church outside the Court of Appeal when the religious tussle over the Middle Eastern word for god heads back to the legal arena.
Perkasa secretary-general Syed Hassan Syed Ali said the planned rally was in support of the Home Ministry in its efforts to prohibit non-Muslims from referring to God as “Allah” in print materials.
“The Court of Appeal’s decision in this case is very important to Muslims,” Syed Hassan said in a statement emailed to The Malay Mail Online.
“Perkasa also calls on other Muslims to join us at Putrajaya in great numbers this Thursday morning. Show our support towards efforts in defending the word “Allah” from being used and misused by other religious believers,” he added.
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Perkasa’s remarks today come after Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said last Saturday that the Arabic word “Allah” is exclusive to Muslims, and that non-Muslims must stop challenging this “absolute right”.
Zahid also urged Muslim groups to unite and defend against what he seemed to view as an attempt by non-believers to undermine the country’s predominant religion.
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The “Allah” row erupted in 2008 when the Home Ministry threatened to revoke the Herald’s newspaper permit for its reference to God as “Allah”, prompting the Catholic Church to sue the government for violating its constitutional rights.
The 2009 High Court decision upholding the Catholic Church’s constitutional right to use the word “Allah” had shocked many Muslims that consider the word to only refer to the Muslim God.
Christians are Malaysia’s third-largest religious population at 2.6 million people, according to statistics from the 2010 census, behind Muslims and Buddhists.
– themalaymailonline.com
Full article: http://www.malaysia-chronicle.com/#ixzz2cWUyOU53
Follow us: @MsiaChronicle on Twitter
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Malaysian Insider
Catholic Church calls for respect as “Allah” issue has its day in court Thursday
The Catholic Church has expressed grave concern over recent statements on the use of the word “Allah”, a matter which is still pending at the Court of Appeal.
A statement issued today by Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur chancellor Father Jestus Pereira noted that “many of the statements are stoking racial sentiments and creating religious tension in our country.
“We humbly request all parties to respectfully allow the judicial process to take its course and urge the relevant authorities to take necessary steps to prevent any untoward incidence. We pray that peace and good sense will prevail,” he said.
The church’s call comes following comments from Malay rights group Perkasa yesterday that they will demonstrate on Thursday outside the Court of Appeal which is set to hear the church’s application to strike out the government’s appeal against a High Court decision allowing the church’s newspaper, Herald, to use the word “Allah”.
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The Al-Kitab, God’s Word in Malay
When, why and how Christians use the word ‘Allah’ – The Christian Federation of Malaysia
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