Tit for tat arguments on who has the right to use the term Allah continues both in the blogosphere and also off the Internet. A cursory glance at Malaysiakini's Letters section is ample evidence that the polemics have hardly died down. I can only imagine how much more vicious the accusations on both sides can be in the absence of a public audience.
Personally, I feel that the temperature may have only risen with the recent lawsuits against the Government by both Sidang Injil Borneo Sabah and the Herald; both related to the prohibition of the use of the term Allah as the name of God which has clearly violated the freedom of Malaysians to profess and practice the faith of their choice.
Then again, could we have expected anything else? I guess, if it were up to me, I would have counselled on public relations and dialogue as the first step - both to assuage the common perception among Muslims that the Christian community is a potentially pro-West subversive element that seeks to undermine Islam and also minimise the fear that there is a systematic effort to undermine Christian faith and practice in our country. A lawsuit might still eventually be necessary, even if its just to establish a judicial precedent against arbitrary decisions like those imposed by the Internal Security Ministry but I am wondering if a different administration would perhaps be the less confrontative way forward.
As an aside, I would like to present this challenge to my Christian brethren. Let this be a wake up call that we need to re-look at how seriously we are actually integrating the national language into our Church life and practice. To jump every time something like this happens and yet be absolutely half hearted at other times when it comes to using the national language makes all the current hullabaloo sound so absolutely hollow. Are we merely animated because this is another opportunity for an "us vs them" exercise? How much of this is actual concern for the legitimate rights of all creation and how much is actually a mere manifestation of our own inherent prejudices and bias?
How this will end up is still up for grabs but a few things seem to be obvious - the polemics isn't dying down, the stakes have been upped a few notches, and another cleavage has been ripped in between Malaysians. All in all, it seems to be heading towards a lose-lose situation.
This Pandora's box has been opened by a clique of people whose concern for their own political survival outweighs their concern for nation building and national well being. These people appear to have absolutely no scruples in taking the risk of plunging our nation to further factionalism and fracture for their own selfish wants. And to make matters worst, they are doing it at our expense and we have been pushed by circumstances to dance along with their horrendous tune.
I appeal to all Malaysians; irregardless of ethnicity or creed; to defy these attempts to divide us further. Let us be wise enough to identify who the real serpent is and focus our energies against defeating this malignant tumour that threatens to mutate us as a nation into something totally putrid and unrecognisable. Jangan kita diperbodohkan lagi!
If you liked this post, consider buying me some coffee. Suggested price is $1.00 for a cup and $10.00 for a 1 lbs bag (personally I am a big fan of Ethiopian Yirgacheffe).
Categories: Faith, Works
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