BY: YEO BEE YIN
This must be a happy time for those
of you who think you have won a war for Allah.
First of all, I would like to
congratulate Perkasa and other NGOs who have screamed, shouted, and threatened
Malaysians who disagreed that Allah should be exclusive to Muslims.
Congratulations! You have won your holy war. Go celebrate.
Second, I would like to congratulate
the four judges who dismissed the Catholic church’s application for leave to
appeal against a decision upholding the government ban against its use of
“Allah” as a reference to God. If you made this judgement to protect your own
religion, congratulations for sacrificing your professionalism.
Third, I would like to congratulate
the Home Ministry, for it was you that filed an appeal against the High Court
ruling that the Herald can call on Allah.
Fourth, I would like to congratulate
Umno, for you have been successful in engineering the war over Allah to
distract Malaysian Muslims from the rising cost of living, your corrupt
practices and your inability to govern and lead. Oh, Umno, you are such a
political genius.
Fifth, I would like to congratulate
the Christians in Sabah and Sarawak, for you can now see the true colours of
the organisation that you’ve so enthusiastically supported for the past 50 over
years.
As for me, call me whatever, catch
me if you like, charge me if you can, I will continue to believe and stand on
the principle that everyone in this country is given by the Federal
Constitution the liberty to practise his or her own religion and to express
himself or herself. By the principle of natural justice and liberty, Allah
should never be exclusive to any particular group of people.
To my fellow Malaysians who are
Bahasa Malaysia speaking Christians, remember this: They may take “Allah” away
from the Herald, but they can never take God away from your heart. Be strong
and courageous, continue to love and pray for them who persecute you for they
know not what they are doing.
God bless Malaysia.
