Back
About RSIS
Introduction
Building the Foundations
Welcome Message
Board of Governors
Staff Profiles
Executive Deputy Chairman’s Office
Dean’s Office
Management
Distinguished Fellows
Faculty and Research
Associate Research Fellows, Senior Analysts and Research Analysts
Visiting Fellows
Adjunct Fellows
Administrative Staff
Honours and Awards for RSIS Staff and Students
RSIS Endowment Fund
Endowed Professorships
Career Opportunities
Getting to RSIS
Research
Research Centres
Centre for Multilateralism Studies (CMS)
Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies (NTS Centre)
Centre of Excellence for National Security
Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies (IDSS)
International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research (ICPVTR)
Research Programmes
National Security Studies Programme (NSSP)
Social Cohesion Research Programme (SCRP)
Studies in Inter-Religious Relations in Plural Societies (SRP) Programme
Other Research
Future Issues and Technology Cluster
Research@RSIS
Science and Technology Studies Programme (STSP) (2017-2020)
Graduate Education
Graduate Programmes Office
Exchange Partners and Programmes
How to Apply
Financial Assistance
Meet the Admissions Team: Information Sessions and other events
RSIS Alumni
Outreach
Global Networks
About Global Networks
RSIS Alumni
Executive Education
About Executive Education
SRP Executive Programme
Terrorism Analyst Training Course (TATC)
International Programmes
About International Programmes
Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior Military Officers (APPSMO)
Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior National Security Officers (APPSNO)
International Conference on Cohesive Societies (ICCS)
International Strategy Forum-Asia (ISF-Asia)
Publications
RSIS Publications
Annual Reviews
Books
Bulletins and Newsletters
RSIS Commentary Series
Counter Terrorist Trends and Analyses
Commemorative / Event Reports
Future Issues
IDSS Papers
Interreligious Relations
Monographs
NTS Insight
Policy Reports
Working Papers
External Publications
Authored Books
Journal Articles
Edited Books
Chapters in Edited Books
Policy Reports
Working Papers
Op-Eds
Glossary of Abbreviations
Policy-relevant Articles Given RSIS Award
RSIS Publications for the Year
External Publications for the Year
Media
Cohesive Societies
Sustainable Security
Other Resource Pages
News Releases
Speeches
Video/Audio Channel
External Podcasts
Events
Contact Us
S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies Think Tank and Graduate School Ponder The Improbable Since 1966
Nanyang Technological University Nanyang Technological University
  • About RSIS
      IntroductionBuilding the FoundationsWelcome MessageBoard of GovernorsHonours and Awards for RSIS Staff and StudentsRSIS Endowment FundEndowed ProfessorshipsCareer OpportunitiesGetting to RSIS
      Staff ProfilesExecutive Deputy Chairman’s OfficeDean’s OfficeManagementDistinguished FellowsFaculty and ResearchAssociate Research Fellows, Senior Analysts and Research AnalystsVisiting FellowsAdjunct FellowsAdministrative Staff
  • Research
      Research CentresCentre for Multilateralism Studies (CMS)Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies (NTS Centre)Centre of Excellence for National SecurityInstitute of Defence and Strategic Studies (IDSS)International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research (ICPVTR)
      Research ProgrammesNational Security Studies Programme (NSSP)Social Cohesion Research Programme (SCRP)Studies in Inter-Religious Relations in Plural Societies (SRP) Programme
      Other ResearchFuture Issues and Technology ClusterResearch@RSISScience and Technology Studies Programme (STSP) (2017-2020)
  • Graduate Education
      Graduate Programmes OfficeExchange Partners and ProgrammesHow to ApplyFinancial AssistanceMeet the Admissions Team: Information Sessions and other eventsRSIS Alumni
  • Outreach
      Global NetworksAbout Global NetworksRSIS Alumni
      Executive EducationAbout Executive EducationSRP Executive ProgrammeTerrorism Analyst Training Course (TATC)
      International ProgrammesAbout International ProgrammesAsia-Pacific Programme for Senior Military Officers (APPSMO)Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior National Security Officers (APPSNO)International Conference on Cohesive Societies (ICCS)International Strategy Forum-Asia (ISF-Asia)
  • Publications
      RSIS PublicationsAnnual ReviewsBooksBulletins and NewslettersRSIS Commentary SeriesCounter Terrorist Trends and AnalysesCommemorative / Event ReportsFuture IssuesIDSS PapersInterreligious RelationsMonographsNTS InsightPolicy ReportsWorking Papers
      External PublicationsAuthored BooksJournal ArticlesEdited BooksChapters in Edited BooksPolicy ReportsWorking PapersOp-Eds
      Glossary of AbbreviationsPolicy-relevant Articles Given RSIS AwardRSIS Publications for the YearExternal Publications for the Year
  • Media
      Cohesive SocietiesSustainable SecurityOther Resource PagesNews ReleasesSpeechesVideo/Audio ChannelExternal Podcasts
  • Events
  • Contact Us
    • Connect with Us

      rsis.ntu
      rsis_ntu
      rsisntu
      rsisvideocast
      school/rsis-ntu
      rsis.sg
      rsissg
      RSIS
      RSS
      Subscribe to RSIS Publications
      Subscribe to RSIS Events

      Getting to RSIS

      Nanyang Technological University
      Block S4, Level B3,
      50 Nanyang Avenue,
      Singapore 639798

      Click here for direction to RSIS

      Get in Touch

    Connect
    Search
    • RSIS
    • Publication
    • RSIS Publications
    • CO13209 | The “Allah” Issue Revisited
    • Annual Reviews
    • Books
    • Bulletins and Newsletters
    • RSIS Commentary Series
    • Counter Terrorist Trends and Analyses
    • Commemorative / Event Reports
    • Future Issues
    • IDSS Papers
    • Interreligious Relations
    • Monographs
    • NTS Insight
    • Policy Reports
    • Working Papers

    CO13209 | The “Allah” Issue Revisited
    Choong Pui Yee

    11 November 2013

    download pdf

    Synopsis

    The Malaysian Court of Appeal ruling on the “Allah” issue contradicts the Cabinet Ten-Point Solution, a decision that allows the usage of the word “Allah” by Christians in East Malaysia. The controversy continues to divide Malaysians while it pacifies the Muslim community.

    Commentary

    THE MALAYSIAN Court of Appeal ruling last month upholding the Home Ministry’s ban on the use of the term “Allah” by the Catholic weekly The Herald has not really settled the controversy that divides Malaysians of the Christian and Muslim faiths. The ruling contradicts the Ten-Point Solution of the Malaysian cabinet that allowed the continued usage of the word “Allah” by Christians in East Malaysia.

    The verdict overturns the 2009 High Court ruling giving the Herald the right to use the term “Allah” for God. The Appeal Court held that the use of “Allah” by Christians was not justified on the grounds that the usage of “Allah” is not integral to the Christian faith. Notwithstanding this, Prime Minister Najib Razak stated that the Christians in East Malaysia would not be affected by this decision and that they can continue to use the word “Allah”. In his Muslim New Year message, he had also said he would continue to defend the exclusive rights of the Muslims in Malaysia to use the word “Allah”.

    Overview of the “Allah” Saga

    At the same time, 2,000 weekly newsletters of The Herald which were meant to be distributed to the churches in Sabah were seized by the Home Ministry within weeks of the Court of Appeal ruling. The Home Ministry stated that they needed to ensure the newsletters did not contain the word “Allah”. It released the seized bibles a few days later.

    The contest over the word “Allah” started in 1986 when the Malaysian government gazetted legislation that banned non-Muslims from using four Arabic words – Allah, Solat, Kaabah and Baitullah. The reasons for such legislation were to prevent the propagation of Christianity among Muslims and to avoid confusing Muslims. Despite this legislation, many Malay-speaking Christians especially in the eastern part of Malaysia had continued to use the word “Allah” to refer to their God. Publishers of The Herald based their case on historical grounds. They argued that the term “Allah” predates Islam and was in fact used by pagan nomadic tribes in the Arabian Peninsula to refer to a supreme deity. More importantly, they also made the case that because both Islam and Christianity are monotheistic religions and have a tradition elsewhere in the Arabic-speaking world of using the term “Allah”, the Malaysian government had no basis to ban Christians from using the term.

    Lingering confusion

    During the appeal hearing, presiding Judge Mohd Zawawi bin Salleh declared that the Christians themselves have not reached a consensus as to how to use the word “Allah”. This is despite the fact that the Christian Federation of Malaysia had consistently and unanimously fought to use this word. It is also important to note that the basis for this conclusion by Judge Zawawi derived from his own extensive research which had not been discussed by the lawyers representing the parties. Compounding the matter, Prime Minister Najib had assured the Christians in East Malaysia that the Ten-Point Solution remained.

    Clearly the court decision and the Ten-Point Solution are contradictory. As the court decision did not specify that the Ten-Point Solution remains for the Christians in East Malaysia, this means that the court decision should override the Ten-Point Solution notwithstanding Najib’s assurance to the Christians in East Malaysia. Yet different ministers and legal experts have continued to debate the matter. While some had argued that the court decision was applicable to the whole of Malaysia, others had continued to abide by the Ten-Point Solution as assured by the Prime Minister. It seems that the confusion would likely continue in the near future.

    Wider ramifications

    The recent court ruling will also have wider ramifications with regards to minority rights in Malaysia. The media summary of the Appeal Court highlights that the safety of the people and the state is the supreme law and that the welfare of the individual or group must yield to that of the community. This ruling seems to imply that one community is more equal than others. The continued usage of the word “Allah” by the Christian community may have repercussions on the safety of the people and the state.

    There is no doubt that a multi-religious society needs to be sensitive especially when dealing with religious issues. However, once one community’s rights are prioritised over others, it will only deepen the anxieties of those who consequently feel aggrieved and complicate matters of religious and minority rights. In the long run, the state will suffer a legitimacy deficit among the minority communities.

    As of now, the dilemma over how to reconcile the Ten-Point Solution and the court ruling will remain. The Christian minority who has been addressing their God as “Allah” will probably have to think twice before they do so. If anything, there is no winner in the continuing “Allah” saga.

    About the Author

    Choong Pui Yee is a Senior Analyst with the Malaysia Programme at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University.

    Categories: RSIS Commentary Series

    Synopsis

    The Malaysian Court of Appeal ruling on the “Allah” issue contradicts the Cabinet Ten-Point Solution, a decision that allows the usage of the word “Allah” by Christians in East Malaysia. The controversy continues to divide Malaysians while it pacifies the Muslim community.

    Commentary

    THE MALAYSIAN Court of Appeal ruling last month upholding the Home Ministry’s ban on the use of the term “Allah” by the Catholic weekly The Herald has not really settled the controversy that divides Malaysians of the Christian and Muslim faiths. The ruling contradicts the Ten-Point Solution of the Malaysian cabinet that allowed the continued usage of the word “Allah” by Christians in East Malaysia.

    The verdict overturns the 2009 High Court ruling giving the Herald the right to use the term “Allah” for God. The Appeal Court held that the use of “Allah” by Christians was not justified on the grounds that the usage of “Allah” is not integral to the Christian faith. Notwithstanding this, Prime Minister Najib Razak stated that the Christians in East Malaysia would not be affected by this decision and that they can continue to use the word “Allah”. In his Muslim New Year message, he had also said he would continue to defend the exclusive rights of the Muslims in Malaysia to use the word “Allah”.

    Overview of the “Allah” Saga

    At the same time, 2,000 weekly newsletters of The Herald which were meant to be distributed to the churches in Sabah were seized by the Home Ministry within weeks of the Court of Appeal ruling. The Home Ministry stated that they needed to ensure the newsletters did not contain the word “Allah”. It released the seized bibles a few days later.

    The contest over the word “Allah” started in 1986 when the Malaysian government gazetted legislation that banned non-Muslims from using four Arabic words – Allah, Solat, Kaabah and Baitullah. The reasons for such legislation were to prevent the propagation of Christianity among Muslims and to avoid confusing Muslims. Despite this legislation, many Malay-speaking Christians especially in the eastern part of Malaysia had continued to use the word “Allah” to refer to their God. Publishers of The Herald based their case on historical grounds. They argued that the term “Allah” predates Islam and was in fact used by pagan nomadic tribes in the Arabian Peninsula to refer to a supreme deity. More importantly, they also made the case that because both Islam and Christianity are monotheistic religions and have a tradition elsewhere in the Arabic-speaking world of using the term “Allah”, the Malaysian government had no basis to ban Christians from using the term.

    Lingering confusion

    During the appeal hearing, presiding Judge Mohd Zawawi bin Salleh declared that the Christians themselves have not reached a consensus as to how to use the word “Allah”. This is despite the fact that the Christian Federation of Malaysia had consistently and unanimously fought to use this word. It is also important to note that the basis for this conclusion by Judge Zawawi derived from his own extensive research which had not been discussed by the lawyers representing the parties. Compounding the matter, Prime Minister Najib had assured the Christians in East Malaysia that the Ten-Point Solution remained.

    Clearly the court decision and the Ten-Point Solution are contradictory. As the court decision did not specify that the Ten-Point Solution remains for the Christians in East Malaysia, this means that the court decision should override the Ten-Point Solution notwithstanding Najib’s assurance to the Christians in East Malaysia. Yet different ministers and legal experts have continued to debate the matter. While some had argued that the court decision was applicable to the whole of Malaysia, others had continued to abide by the Ten-Point Solution as assured by the Prime Minister. It seems that the confusion would likely continue in the near future.

    Wider ramifications

    The recent court ruling will also have wider ramifications with regards to minority rights in Malaysia. The media summary of the Appeal Court highlights that the safety of the people and the state is the supreme law and that the welfare of the individual or group must yield to that of the community. This ruling seems to imply that one community is more equal than others. The continued usage of the word “Allah” by the Christian community may have repercussions on the safety of the people and the state.

    There is no doubt that a multi-religious society needs to be sensitive especially when dealing with religious issues. However, once one community’s rights are prioritised over others, it will only deepen the anxieties of those who consequently feel aggrieved and complicate matters of religious and minority rights. In the long run, the state will suffer a legitimacy deficit among the minority communities.

    As of now, the dilemma over how to reconcile the Ten-Point Solution and the court ruling will remain. The Christian minority who has been addressing their God as “Allah” will probably have to think twice before they do so. If anything, there is no winner in the continuing “Allah” saga.

    About the Author

    Choong Pui Yee is a Senior Analyst with the Malaysia Programme at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University.

    Categories: RSIS Commentary Series

    Popular Links

    About RSISResearch ProgrammesGraduate EducationPublicationsEventsAdmissionsCareersVideo/Audio ChannelRSIS Intranet

    Connect with Us

    rsis.ntu
    rsis_ntu
    rsisntu
    rsisvideocast
    school/rsis-ntu
    rsis.sg
    rsissg
    RSIS
    RSS
    Subscribe to RSIS Publications
    Subscribe to RSIS Events

    Getting to RSIS

    Nanyang Technological University
    Block S4, Level B3,
    50 Nanyang Avenue,
    Singapore 639798

    Click here for direction to RSIS

    Get in Touch

      Copyright © S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies. All rights reserved.
      Privacy Statement / Terms of Use
      Help us improve

        Rate your experience with this website
        123456
        Not satisfiedVery satisfied
        What did you like?
        0/255 characters
        What can be improved?
        0/255 characters
        Your email
        Please enter a valid email.
        Thank you for your feedback.
        This site uses cookies to offer you a better browsing experience. By continuing, you are agreeing to the use of cookies on your device as described in our privacy policy. Learn more
        OK
        Latest Book
        more info