Wednesday 13 January 2010

I like what this guy said

Seems like the word "Allah" is now the most famous word in the country. So have the protesters got what they wanted?

3 comments:

Yee Yen said...

My ex-roommate in UTP (Larissa) is an Iban and a very devoted Christian. I read her bible a few times. It's in Malay (in Sabah and Sarawak EVERYONE speaks in Malay in the very baku way - its just the first language there). It's got the word 'Allah' all over the pages. I'm not exactly sure who 'Allah' meant in her bible because I haven't read the whole book(whether the God or a prophet or a saint for example). But she does write verses to put on her notice board saying things like Allah Maha Esa and pray to Allah to bless her and so on. But say Allah in her bible meant her christian God - how would she feel now? Imagine all she and all her Sarawakian friends have been brought up that Allah is their God, what would they feel if this use is banned in her bible? Don't they have a right to feel dissatisfied just like the Muslim?
I haven't seen the Christian side of the story very much in the media at all. And I suspect people who are protesting haven't thought from the other perspective either. Maybe because the Christians from Sabah and Sarawak are less vocal in putting forth their argument (i.e. not as loud in shouting). But they've got right as well, right to freedom of religion, and they are bumiputra as well.
My opinion: I think the matter should be debated in public. I don't think there is a straight forward answer to this problem. But please, debate in a calm, rational and civilised manner. If I were the chairperson, I would make a rule that everyone can speak up. But if anyone start shouting, insulting, being sarcastic or childish, then he's out of the room straightaway. The media is not doing a very good job now: I think the media should really not pay any attention to people and groups who shout, because that just rewards the behaviour and sends out the messege that when you make a fuss you will be heard - which is not what we want.

Annie Tan Yee Leng said...

I won't blame it to the media because they are suppose to report things that are newsworthy without giving any personal opinion. The thing is the most newsworthy (the loudest) ones are the ones who are shouting and protesting and the Christians practically did nothing then attending the court sessions. I thought religious people are suppose to love peace even if things are not going their way.. like someone told be before.. if someone slap your left cheek, you let them slap your right cheek too..

You saw the comment of my friend Geeta on my previous post, she too said that in Indonesia the Christians use the word Allah in their religion practise. The court also understand the fact and has removed the ban on the word but the thing now is not about justice anymore. The people (who protested) want things to be unjust. You saw the person gave the talk in the video in this post? He's one of the leaders in PAS. In my opinion what he said was very wise but what happened next? He has been banned from preaching in other mosques. That's why I can never understand the people here. Are they really doing this as an act to defend their religion, to merely doing this to offend others? Or should I said they are acting as God rather than acting for God.

Wan Cheng said...

Very well said, Yen.

What people say and do reflects back to who they are and what they believe. People are people. Smarter ppl like us read history and learn from others' mistakes/wisdom but most of us need to make mistakes in order to learn.