Malaysian row over word for 'God'
BBC

A church and Christian newspaper in Malaysia are suing the government after it decreed that the word "Allah" can only be used by Muslims. In the Malay language "Allah" is used to mean any god, and Christians say they have used the term for centuries.

Opponents of the ban say it is unconstitutional and unreasonable.

It is the latest in a series of religious rows in largely Muslim Malaysia, where minority groups claim their rights are being eroded.

A spokesman for the Herald, the newspaper of the Catholic Church in Malaysia, said a legal suit was filed after they received repeated official warnings that the newspaper could have its licence revoked if it continued to use the word. "We are of the view that we have the right to use the word 'Allah'," said editor Rev Lawrence Andrew.

'Unlawful'

The Sabah Evangelical Church of Borneo has also taken legal action after a government ministry moved to ban the import of religious children's books containing the word.

In a statement given to Reuters news agency, the church said the translation of the bible in which the word Allah appears has been used by Christians since the earliest days of the church. There has been no official government comment but parliamentary opposition leader Lim Kit Siang said the decision to ban the word for non-Muslims on security grounds was "unlawful".

"The term 'Allah' was used to refer to God by Arabic-speaking Christians before Arabic-speaking Muslims existed," he said.

Religious issues are highly sensitive in Malaysia, which has a 60% Muslim population. Religious freedom is guaranteed in the law but minority groups have accused the Muslim Malay majority of trying to increase the role of Islam in the country.

Who owns God?



Not me.

I spent time in multiple Malaysian and Indonesia locations as well as Singapore.
People are religious. When you pack them tight certain traits and behaviors are seen.

I don't know about Singapore which I found to be quite secular but Malaysia gives me the creeps being a non Muslim. Its pretty rigid even though it has a facade of modernization. The rights for non Muslims are pretty much non existent as witnessed by the recent crackdown on Hindu Indians who are 3rd and 4th gen Malaysians. Till today there is plenty of repression on non Muslims in Malaysia. Indonesia fares a bit better as they tolerate Hindu Java and Sumatra to an extent but I don't know for how long.

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99 Gurkha with OM616 IDI turbo

2015 Gurkha with OM616 DI turbo

2014 Rexton W with OM612 VGT

So unless you're a muslim, 'allah is dead'.... I'm sure Nietzsche would appreciate the nod.

No biggee. Heck, John Cleese owns the rights to certain silly walks.

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past MB rides:
'68 220D
'68 220D(another one)
'67 230
'84 SD
Current rides:
'06 Lexus RX330
'93 Ford F-250
'96 Corvette
'99 Polaris 700 RMK sled
2011 Polaris Assault
'86 Yamaha TT350(good 'ol thumper)