Religious tension is rising in Malaysia over the Christian community’s use of the Arabic word ‘Allah’ for its own god. But an opposition politician told RNW that his party is working hard to avoid a repeat of the violence that saw churches attacked last night.
The current dispute arose when the Catholic Herald newspaper published an article using the word Allah, which has traditionally only been applied to the Muslim deity. Last week the Malaysian high court ruled the paper had done nothing wrong, sparking anger in the Muslim community. At least three churches were targeted early Friday morning by petrol bombers. One Pentecostal church was completely burned to the ground. Muslims held peaceful protests at mosques during Friday afternoon prayers.
Government encouraged dissent
Tian Chua, an opposition politician with the People’s Justice Party, says the government made the situation worse by urging Muslims to take to the street in protest against the court’s decision.
“All the opposition parties, including the Islamic Party, condemn such a move, which can pose a serious threat to the harmony of society. We’re afraid that this provocation could create community tension and we also want to avoid any form of violence.”
Malaysia is mainly made up of Muslims and Malays and the government relies on them for support. Around nine percent of the population are Christians - including 800,000 Catholics. In many Arabic-speaking countries Allah is also used to describe the Christian God, but in Malaysia the issue is particularly sensitive. Muslims accuse Christian missionaries of using the word to try and convert people to Christianity.
Test for the Prime Minister
Analysts say the situation is a test for Prime Minister Najib Razak, who has rejected claims that his party, the United Malays National Organisation, was behind the petrol bombing of churches in Kuala Lumpur. Elections are planned for 2013, and his handling of the religious issue will be a key factor in whether he is returned to power, according to Ooi Kee Beng from the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore:
“The ball is now in Najib’s court. All eyes are on him and the home ministry. Will they enforce the rule of law or be seen enforcing the rule of law without fear or favour?”
Solidarity
Tian Chua today visited churches and spoke to pastors, expressing solidarity with Christians and offering support. He added that he didn’t expect any further clashes.
“We are confident the majority of the Muslims in this country are fair-minded and rational and they are not influenced by the ruling party.
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The peace loving Muslims, Christians and Jews must unite and start a truly peaceful religion because Islam, Christianity and Judaism are dominated by violent war mongers.
It is not true that the three main monotheistic religions of the world are "dominated by violent war mongers." Rather, these three religions are having their good name tarnished by the minority of belligerent, intolerant fanatical idiots who claim to be members of any one of these religions.
You might be convincing because included in your "minority" is G W Bush, Obama, Osama, Blair, Hitler. Do I need to keep going? I don't think so.
“We are confident the majority of the Muslims in this country are fair-minded and rational and they are not influenced by the ruling party.".....If nine percent of the population is Christian, the remainder 91% (excluding any other religion) are Muslim. If a simple majority, slightly more than half, of all the Muslims are fair-minded, then the Cristians are going to have a very difficult time with the slightly less than half that are not fair-minded and rational Muslims. When 45 percent of the population can get so upset as to burn churches because someone else refers to Allah as Allah, then you got a religion, no matter where it's believers are living in the world, which will not hestitate to destroy non-believers. This incident is nothing more than a micro-incident that has and is taking place in the world, today. Doesn't France, Belgium, and the Netherlands have some similarities with Malaysia? When you take a critical look at core of the problem, it is religion.
Why didn't the more radicalized elements of the mullahs think about a "copyright" on the term Allah, centuries ago? Various religions have numerous and various terms and names to describe "God", so why the big fight now? If the nutcases behind this violence can prove they have a monopoly behind the beliefs of over a billion and a half Muslims worldwide, then let them go to the nearest patent office and prove their case, rather than indulging in senseless violence and killing!!
How silly on their part, and how tragic for the Christains.
Oh! those poor christians!
How tragic for the Hindus that the Malaysian Government banned the practice of yoga in 2008. Tragic for freedom-loving enlightened people as well. Islam is a dictatorship...and a fascist one at that.
What happened to the peace loving Muslims?
They silently approve of violent criminal terrorist acts.
That's the vital point, and why they won't stop and get new recruits..No recession here!
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