OMG

High Court grants Catholic publication Herald the right to use ‘Allah’ word again
KUALA LUMPUR: The Catholic weekly Herald is now free to use the word “Allah” in its publication after the High Court quashed the Home Minister’s prohibition against it using the word, declaring the order as “illegal, null and void.”

In her decision, Justice Lau Bee Lan also declared that under Article 3(1) of the Federal Constitution, applicant Titular Roman Catholic Archbishop Tan Sri Murphy Pakiam had the constitutional right to use “Allah” in the Herald in the exercise of his right that religions other than Islam might be practised in peace and harmony in the country.

She further ruled that the Constitution, which states Islam as the country’s religion, did not empower the minister to make such a prohibition.

(From The Star Online, 1st Jan 2010. Click here for more.)

What a surprise for a new year.

Probably I may not the most rightful person to comment on the court’s decision. In fact I’m not trying to, as I’m more interested to comment on the current atmosphere surrounding the issue itself from my personal point of view.

Some strongly disagree while some others agree under conditions.

Everyday we can see objections from certain groups. They are really fighting for it. While it showed their spirit to defend Islam, it also raised doubt in my mind.

Are they only defending the usage of the word itself?

How about the more important issues like continuing & expanding the teaching of The Prophet?

How about revamping the image of Islam that has been ‘scratched’ to the extent Islam is associated with terrorism, conservative & uncivilised?

And most importantly, how about adapting Islam in the right place – as the highest foundation of politics, jurisprudence, economy, social etc… How many of us really fighting for that?

I don’t know, I’ll just pray for the best.