Elaborating on his support for the Court of Appeal's decision to back a Home Ministry ban on the use of the word ‘Allah' by The Herald, Tourism and Culture Minister Nazri Abdul Aziz said East Malaysian culture was different from the peninsula and the two should not be mixed.
While Christians can continue using ‘Allah' in Sabah and Sarawak because that is a century-old practice, in the peninsula, they must mind sensitivities.
"It is not practised in Peninsular Malaysia. Because of that, I protest against it (the use of 'Allah' by Christians). I don't care what others are saying," Nazri told reporters.
"So, don't kick up a fuss. For Christians from Sabah and Sarawak, when they come here, they need to follow the customs and traditions in the peninsula," he added.
Nazri said differences were not so hard to accept. When Peninsular Malaysians visit Sabah and Sarawak, they had to show their passports to get into the Borneo states, but not the other way around.
By Abdul Rahim Sabri
the issue of religion, especially the topic of "Allah" should not be politicised. Religious scholars and academicians from all faiths should discuss the best way to solve the problem. They should come up with a statement that should be accepted by all.
ReplyDeleteThey can refer to Muslim-majority countries to see how the matter is being handled. In the interest of the multiracial and multireligious communities in the country, it is best that all quarters refrain from making comments that could stoke unwanted sentiments.
ReplyDeleteSekiranya diselaraskan lebih bagus
ReplyDeleteApa dah jadi sekiranya nama Tuhan suci sama tapi berlain pulak di sana sini? Undang manipulasi oleh siapa tu manusia?
ReplyDeleteNazri ni pro pa ni?
ReplyDeleteChristians and Muslims are not taught by their religion to disrespect other religions. Granted, in the global and academic context one can argue from many perspectives and historical facts to justify the use of the word "Allah", but when addressing issues affecting the society that one is in, one must not separate oneself from the real context of the society itself.
ReplyDeleteThe Allah issue between Muslims and Christians in Peninsular Malaysia does not affect Sarawakians because they are a tolerant people, said Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud.
ReplyDelete“To us (people in Sarawak) there is no issue. We have lived with people of different races and different religions for many decades, even before Malaysia,” Taib said.
ReplyDelete“We cannot alter the status quo in Sarawak,” Taib said when asked about Sarawak’s stand after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak opened the Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) convention.
ReplyDeleteTaib said the use of the word was not a problem in the state as the “spirit of tolerance” among Sarawakians is high, one of the features of multi-racial Sarawak which made it a bedrock of stability and harmony.
ReplyDelete“When I travel to the longhouses, I’d just look for a Muslim cook from the city and they (the longhouse folks) would buy the food and even buy praying mats for me to pray in one of their rooms.
ReplyDelete“This is quite natural with us in dealing with people of different religions.
“I myself came from a mission school and it never bothered me when other people made the sign of the cross,” he said, referring to a Christian practice.
ReplyDelete“It’s because it’s their religion, expressing their respect for the Almighty. I can understand it.”
Taib said he would bow and offer his own prayers the Muslim way when his Christian friends made the sign of the cross in their prayers.
ReplyDelete“The Chinese would probably do it their way. The intention is the same.
ReplyDelete“It’s all praying to the superior being which we believe is the Creator of this world.”
“It’s this kind of spirit we have in Sarawak,” Taib said, stressing again that it is not the thorny issue that is in the peninsula.
“The Ibans, the Malays, the Chinese have shown their respect for other religions and cultures even before Malaysia.
ReplyDelete“When we came to Malaysia, we carried this with us and it has become one of the features of Sarawak.”