Advice To Blogs On Issue Over Use Of Word "Allah" By Herald

The fact is that this is a good chance for genuine interfaith conversations whether in forums or between friends. The next link has the announcement. I think I’m trying to model (albeit I admit my bias) a positive approach.

Malaysian Christians ? Chinese & Indians Only

Important stats and important upcoming forum. 

Allah: Siapa yang Punya?
Organised by Free Public Forum and Persatuan Mahasiswa Islam Universiti Malaya

Panelists

• YB Khalid Samad
  – Member of Parliament for Shah Alam
• Most Reverend Archbishop Tan Sri Murphy Pakiam
  – Roman Catholic Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur
• Dr. Asri Zainal Abidin
  – Former Mufti of Perlis
• Dr. Mohd Farid Mohd Shahran
  – Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilization, International Islamic University

Monday, 11 January 2010
7:45pm – 10:30pm

Kuala Lumpur & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH)
Jln Maharajalela
50150 Kuala Lumpur

(location map)

Translating the Names of God: Recent experience from Indonesia and Malaysia
Why It is Not Possible to Substitute Allah with Tuhan in Bible Translation

Two important links above which is very informative and educational.

Orang Kristian tidak pernah berniat mengancam kesucian agama Islam – Siong Tet

It is not about attacking Islam or confusing Muslims. 

Use of the term ‘Allah’: Who is threatening whom? – Dr Lim Teck Ghee

it’s more than the use of the term, it’s also the ethics of the media.

Below is an example of what Utusan has been feeding the Malay public.

From Utusan Malaysia, Jan 3, 2010, starting from the banner splashed across its front page and items filling up pages two, four and five, the paper ran headlines and opinions ranging from ‘Court does not respect sensitivities of Muslims’; to inexplicably calling for the civil case to be heard in Syariah Court; to appealing for Muslim unity; suggesting that the Religious Department act as intervener in the court process; and beseeching intervention by the Council of Rulers.

The tally of 16 news articles does not include other lengthy op-eds in the middle pages about the mission to defend Islam, including one by Dr Mohd Ridhuan Tee Abdullah.

The flagship Utusan editorial by Awang Selamat invoked Perak Mufti Harussani Zakaria’s claim that “all these happened due to the weaknesses and disunity of Muslims”.

Playing Cassandra, Awang Selamat proclaimed that the Malay “discord and foolhardiness in politics, has pushed Islam to the corner”, and added “It is embarrassing that Islamic parties cannot unite in ensuring the survival of Islam”. He laid the blame at the door of “certain liberal-thinking leaders in PAS, like Khalid Samad, who is a great supporter of the use of the term ‘Allah’ by other religions”.

In what is probably the single most fear-mongering statement made by a newspaperman, Awang Selamat made the absolutely ridiculous claim that “status quo Islam di Malaysia boleh berubah bila-bila masa kerana angkara pemimpin Islam sendiri” (the status quo of Islam in Malaysia can change at any time because of Muslim leaders themselves).