Sainthood for provocation to Regina

The story by alternative news portal and also picked by foreign news portal is churches defying ban order to use Allah in churches in Semenanjung. [Read MI here and MM here]

Regina Lee's tip-off written in our previous posting had sparked churches to criticised the 10 points agreements which they themselves used to ague against the seizing of bibles by JAIS. They are turning the table back from Selangor to Putrajaya. [Read MI here, MM here and here, and MD here]

Her church should seek for her instant elevation to sainthood. Her insidious manouvre had encouraged "mischief makers" to put out provocative banners with messages "Allah is great" and "Jesus is the son of Allah" outside churches in Penang.

Pictures of banners outside Church of Assumptions at Lebuh Farquhar, St John Britto Catholic Church in Sungai Pinang, Immaculate Church of Conception, Pulau Tikus and Victory Lutheran Church, Gelugor are spreading on the Internet.

As of writing, no news is found of the incident except for Anil Netto's blog here. The staunch supporter of Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim dispelled it as the work of "mischief makers". He reported the one outside the Church of Nativity in Butterworth was removed by the church.

However, the churches well coordinated defiance and statements does not give much credibility to the attempted denial by Anwar's dedicated spin master. Supposed it is the work of "mischief makers", who could it be?

Before speculating who intend to invoke such provocative act on the Peninsular Muslims, Apanama's posting here of Zakir Naik's view on the Allah name issue in Malaysia should be understood. An extract below:

Every main religion mentions God as Allah somewhere in their holy scriptures and books. It's not exclusive to the Quran.

To a certain small group, from among the hundreds of sects of Christianity, that demands the term 'Allah' in their Malay holy book, he sets a condition.

He says Isa the prophet (Jesus Christ) cannot be God because he cried out to Allah when put on the cross.

"Kristian Sesat"

The new argument promoted by the church and pro-church side is that Islamic law and Sultan's edict cannot be applied on non Muslims thus no interference on the way of worship of the non Muslims. Still in question is whether the worship or ritual of the non Muslims are actually their practise.

In this case, their worship or ritual may have encroach into the constitutional rights of Muslims. The Muslims rights are specified in the constitution and legislated into civil and syariah law.

Blogger Azeeza Abdullah wrote in her blog here the view of a former Catholic from Sarawak but have embraced Islam.

The Sarawakian described Christians wanting to use Allah in bible as "Kristian sesat". Christians will not want to use Allah in their prayers. It will be in consistent with the Vatican practises.

He viewed current happenings as merely a ploy by DAP to use religion for their politics. DAP is uninterested in the religion of the Prime Minister as long as it is not a Muslim. Their agenda is only to apply socialism ala Singapore chauvanism.

This even debunk the justification for use of Allah in Bible for East Malaysians based on the use of deviated translation of God in Indonesian Bible used before formation of Malaysia in Sabah and Sarawak.  

Thus, the issue is really legal in nature. Even the 10 points agreement cannot supersede the constitution and legislated law.

UMNO and PAS was to have a debate on this subject but it is expected to be merely a political debate. Both the Muslim based party quarrel while DAP benefit from their political instigation to divide society for their quest for power.

PAS thinks that having DAP will benefit their quest for power and their Islamic state agenda. They are too obtuse to see that they are merely being taken for a ride. When in power, their agenda and interest will be set aside as happened in DAP dominated Penang.

Voices started by blogger RBF [read here] had called upon Sinar Harian to stop the debate. It is disrespectful on the King and does not benefit any side.

Furthermore the law pertaining to use of Allah by non Muslims is clear and does not need more debate. There is the decree by the Yang Dipertuan Agong, religious edith by the National Fatwa Council and position of the Syura Council of Fatwa. Before he goes into his typical U-turn, Dato Nik Aziz had recently expressed his opposition to the use of Allah by non Muslims.

Similar view by Dato Zulkifli Nordin:

The common view now is the debate is politically motivated and merely to ridicule their political opponent. At the end, both side loses and will not look any smarter.

Does PAS wish to be seen by the Muslim voters as defending the blasphemous statement that "Jesus is son of Allah"?

Firm government
 
In Malaysiakini here, a commentator David Dass raised an important point. Extract below:

The East Malaysians were using the Indonesian Bible long before they became part of Malaysia. Bahasa Malaysia is their language. They are now present in Peninsular Malaysia in large numbers. And churches minister to them and conduct services in their language using the Indonesian Bible.

So what is the issue? These services are conducted in Christian churches not in mosques. The government should take a firm line. Rulers rule in accordance with the law and the constitution.

How do one resolve the presence of Indonesian Bible readers East Malaysians Christians in Semenanjung in large numbers? There is more to that issue.

The important raised is the government have to take a firm and clear stance in accordance to the law and not try to please everybody. Najib's past populist approach has now come to haunt him. Will he dare wield the stick and bring out the long arm of the law to maintain order?

Doubtful.

If the church is frustrated, Muslim group like Perkasa too is disappointed with the inability of the UMNO-led government to be firm and perceived to be weak. [Read MI here] In his blog here, Perkasa's Wira Chief blamed it on weak leadership.

In the meanwhile, Khairy should be congratulated by his "minder" for having Regina to split the different religion and the Malays on this issue. He helped made it increasing difficult for government and leadership to seek resolution and handle the constant provocation to defy the law and sensibility.