“We must all realise that this is not an ‘Allah’ issue alone. The ‘Allah’ issue has become the vehicle to ensure that our federal constitution is not buried and Syariah law becomes the law of the country. This is the real danger.”
Father Lawrence Andrew; Editor, Herald Tribune17 March 2009; Malaysiakini
Vatican support for Allah signature campaign
17 March 2009
by Joe Fernandez
A signature campaign that activists in Sabah and Sarawak have initiated on the right of Christians in Malaysia to use the term ‘Allah’ for God is said to have received the support of the Vatican.
Kota Kinabalu church activist Ronnie Klassen said Herald editor Father Lawrence Andrew, who is in Rome on a periodic visit to the Vatican, had indicated this in an email dated March 14, in reply to his request for views and support of the signature campaign.
It is understood that the contents of the email could not have been penned without the prior approval of the Holy See.
Lawrence wrote: “We must all realise that this is not an ‘Allah’ issue alone. The ‘Allah’ issue has become the vehicle to ensure that our federal constitution is not buried and Syariah law becomes the law of the country. This is the real danger.”
He cited contradictions in Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s recent public statements that indicate inherent ‘danger’ for the status of the federal constitution.
Abdullah, he pointed out, has assured that Malaysia is not a theocracy but at the same time has insisted that it is a "Negara Islam".
“...There can be no Negara Islam without Syariah law and culture. So, is he not slowly preparing to make Syariah law the law of the country?” asked Lawrence.
Lawrence’s email was brief, said Klassen, but the priest - who will leave Rome today - gave the assurance that the church’s lawyers are studying the issue.
The government has prohibited the Herald, a Catholic weekly, from using the word ‘Allah’ on the ground that it could mislead Muslims.
The matter is currently under judicial review and a decision is expected on May 28.
Mulahazah:
Lihatlah bagaimana mereka bersatu bagi menangani isu ini, sedangkan umat Islam terus berpecah kepada pelbagai pandangan..malah ada yang menjadi 'kelab penyokong Kristian' untuk menggunakan kalimah 'Allah'. Perlu ditegaskan apa yang kita larang adalah penggunaan 'KALIMAH' 'ALLAH'..bukan menafikan Allah itu sebagai Tuhan yang menciptakan semua makhluk termasuk si Kristian, Yahudi dll...
Tetapi kita tegas untuk mengatakan 'Allah' adalah Tuhan bagi agama Islam dan BUKAN tuhan bagi agama lain...kerana mengatakan 'Allah adalah tuhan sekalian agama' akan membawa kepada pluralisme agama dan itulah Wahdatul Adyan yg menyalahi aqidah Islam!!!