Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM) remains unconvinced with the government’s 10-point solution to the Alkitab-Allah Row

PETALING JAYA, April 14 – The Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM) remains unconvinced with the government's 10-point solution to the Alkitab row, calling it "ad hoc and short term" and pointing out that it still did not address the impasse over the use of the word "Allah".

The Najib administration had come up with the solution on April 11, ahead of elections in Sarawak, the state with the most number of Christians.

"We consider the 10-point solution to be an ad hoc and short term solution to the two consignments of Alkitab which have been impounded at Port Klang and Port of Kuching," CFM president Ng Moon Hing told reporters here.

Ng explained that while the 10-point solution had dealt with the impounding of the Alkitab, it had failed to address the root cause of Christian discontent – the prohibition of publications containing the word "Allah".

He then cited three laws which were the root cause of the "problem":

• The 1982 prohibition of Alkitab and 1983 prohibition of "Perjanjian Baru" under the Internal Security Act on the grounds that the Alkitab is prejudicial to national security interests of Malaysia;

• The 1986 administrative order prohibiting the use of the term "Allah" in Christian publications on the grounds of "public order" and prevention of misunderstanding betwen Muslims and Christians;

• The Home Ministry's guidelines of publications on the control of Quranic texts (Garis panduan bahagian kawalan dan penerbitan buku teks Al-Quran) prohibiting the use of Allah.

"The 1country 2 policies is confusing and unacceptable," said Ng today.

Faced with an unyielding Christian community days ahead of a crucial state poll in Sarawak, the government offered early this month a 10-point solution to the Alkitab impasse which will allow the Bible to be freely distributed across the country in all languages.

The Cabinet offered a new list of suggestions to put an end to the month-long stand-off over 35,000 Alkitab seized by the Home Ministry in a bid to head off a possible backlash against the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) during Saturday's vote by Christians who make up half the population in Sarawak.

However, it insisted that Malay-language bibles in the peninsula be marked with a cross and "Christian Publication" on the front cover.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak also gave his assurance yesterday that his administration would never again impound bibles.

But Muslim groups and leaders have accused the government of capitulating to pressure from Christians and failing to uphold Islamic laws and dignity.

The Control and Restriction of the Propagation of Non-Islamic Religions Enactment bars non-Muslims from using Allah to refer to God as is done in the Alkitab.

The law applies in all states besides Sabah, Sarawak, Penang and the federal territories.

"We reiterate that the Bible is our holy scripture and it is our right to read study and pray with it in the language of our choice, as freedom of religion is enshrined under Federal Constitution," said Ng today.

He then referred to item 9 of the 10-point solution which "reiterates the government's commitment to address religious issues."

"The government should therefore take immediate steps to remove root causes by revoking clauses made under the ISA and the administrative order and to amend the garis panduan (guidelines) to remove the prohibition," the CFM chairman added.

Source

COMMENTS:

Does "Allah" Mean God?

The word "Allah" is the perfect description of the "One God" of monotheism for Jews, Christians and Muslims!

Is "Allah" only for Islam and Muslims?
[No! It is for All Three Abrahamic Faiths.]

"Allah" is the same word used by Christian Arabs and Jewish Arabs in their Bible, centuries before Islam came.

For Arabic they have translated the verse in the New Testament in Arabic from the famous verse in the Gospel John 3:16 -

"For God so loved the world..."
- and the word the translators used in Arabic for "God" is the very same word used by Muslims around the planet, "Allah."
Where Does the word "Allah" Come From?

"Allah" comes from the Aramaic word "elah" for a 'god' or something worshipped. - (Arabic) means '

This word (elah) can be made plural (gods), as in "aleha" and it can be male or female just as the word in English can be "goddess."

"Allah" comes from "elaha" but it brings more clarification and understanding.

Allah = Has no gender (not male and not female)
"He" is used only out of respect and dignity - not for gender
Allah = Just a title for "God" and not a personal Name of God

Allah is the borrowed word from Aramaic "Alaha" aka Allaha.

The evidence of Surah 4:125 for Allaha: (Pickthal)
Who is better in religion than he who surrendereth his purpose to Allah while doing good (to men) and followeth the tradition of Abraham, the upright ? Allah (Himself) chose Abraham for friend.

For this orthographic substitution at least one case of an indirect evidence can be adduced. In surah 4:125 there are both grammatical and exegetical reasons to assume that the word "Allah" had better not been substituted for "Al-ilah". Richard Bell's interpretation of this verse, which follows the line of the traditional understanding, is:

A Who is better as regards religion than
B he who surrenders himself to Allah, doing good meanwhile,
C and follows the creed of Abraham as a Haneef?
D Allah took Abraham as a friend.

Did Alaha really told Abraham that His Name is "Allah" or it is merely a title like "Sir or Madam"? Is there any explicit verse which says "My Name is Allah"?

Alaha aka Elohim did introduce Himself that His Name is YHWH or Yahweh. So we known that Allah is just a title like "Sir" and not the personal Name of the Alaha of Moses.

Exodus 3:15 And Elohim said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, YHWH Elohim of your fathers, the Elohim of Abraham, the Elohim of Isaac, and the Elohim of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.

Isaiah 42:8 I am YHWH: that is My Name: and My Glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.

Genesis 12:1 Now YHWH had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:

The personal Name of the Alaha of Abraham is called Yahweh and not Alaha which is merely a common title for all gods.

These verses says Allah's Name and what is that God's name???

Sura 5:4 (Pickthal) They ask thee (O Muhammad) what is made lawful for them. Say: (all) good things are made lawful for you. And those beasts and birds of prey which ye have trained as hounds are trained, ye teach them that which Allah taught you; so eat of that which they catch for you and mention Allah's name upon it, and observe your duty to Allah. Lo! Allah is swift to take account.

Sura 6:118 (Pickthal)

Eat of that over which the name of Allah hath been mentioned, if ye are believers in His revelations.

Sura 6:121 (Pickthal) And eat not of that whereon Allah's Name hath not been mentioned, for lo! it is abomination. Lo! the devils do inspire their minions to dispute with you. But if ye obey them, ye will be in truth idolaters.

Sura 7:180 (Pickthal) Allah's are the fairest Names. Invoke Him by them. And leave the company of those who blaspheme His Names. They will be requited what they do.

So what is Allah's Name and Allah's are the fairest Names in plural???

Sura 27:30 (Pickthal) Lo! it is from Solomon, and lo! it is: In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

How could "God" which is merely a title be treated as the personal name of God? In the Name of God is meaningless. In the Name of Yahu'shua or In the Name of Yahu'weh Alaha only make sense.

Sura 59:24 (Pickthal) He is Allah, the Creator, the Shaper out of naught, the Fashioner. His are the most beautiful Names. All that is in the heavens and the earth glorifieth Him, and He is the Mighty, the Wise.

It does not make any sense that "God" is the beautiful Names if Allah means "God" to the Muslims??? But to Arabs Christians, "Allah" means not more than a title "God" or Elohim in Hebrew.

The proper usage of Alaha in Aramaic or Elohim in Hebrew is used after the Personal Name of Alaha.
Genesis 2:7 And YHWH Elohim formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

Christian Update - Sarawak State Election 2011

Dear Bro and Sister in Christ,

The atmosphere for this election is very, very different from the previous ones whereby many Sarawakians, Christians and non-Christians alike are more interested and placing extreme importance on finding their own rights as voters.

The awareness this time around are much more greater than ever. Ibans, Chinese, Melanau and many other races among the locals are now realizing that their land rights, religious freedom as well as wealth of their state has been long stolen by the corrupted leader.

Many are becoming aware that the Chief Minister of Sarawak has long stolen their wealth of the state. During the sharing over the phone, my dad is encouraging us to now target on one very important spiritual battle that we all need to pray for and that is the Bomoh or spiritual leaders that Chief Minister (BN) Taib Mahmud has hired over the years.

Every Thursday night, the bomohs would gather at selected cemetery to cast the spells and perform many rituals to not only charm the voters but also to blindfold the voters from their rights and freedom.

These bomohs are also his key advisors that help advise him on many key decisions including selecting his state leadership excos and ministers. Their main responsibilities are basically to use spiritual power to manipulate Sarawakians in ensuring victory for BN. As such, all the churches and Christians in the state right now are focusing on this issue as they pray for the election.

If you are a true Christian, pray for God's will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. The current State Government has failed to protect the basic rights of the native Christians in term of the freedom to use the Aramaic word "Elah" for "God" and Arabs Christians used Arabic "Allah" for Elah. Native Christians in Sarawak also used "Allah" as one of the titles for Yah'weh Alaha. Both Aramaic and Arabic scholars will agree that "Allah" have been used by Arabs centuries before the coming of Islam.

The native Christians in Sarawak cannot be denied to use Al-kitab with word of Allah in it. Imagine how do these native Christians be able to grow spiritually in the word of Allah if the local people is denied of the import of The Bible in Bahasa Malaysia which is the national language of the country? These 2 consignments of Al-Kitab have been confiscated and desecrated by unlawful stamping of serial numbers like criminal used in the jails. How could the Home Minister did not discipline the officers who desecrate 35,000 copies of The Bible or Al-Kitab Berita Baik (Good News).

As BN Politicians in Sarawak cannot defend this basic rights for you, what more do you expect them to do?

Christians should lived like Prophet Daniel who did not fear death and even he was thrown into burning furnance and lived like Yah'shua aka Jesus who being the Son of Yah'weh Alaha dared to be crucified and died on the Cross, then resurrected on the third day to conquer the power of death.

Do not live like a hypocrite but live a holy life to vote against him who failed to defend your basic rights. Vote against Bomoh led Chief Minister. The govt should not deny that he was engaging Bomohs as advisors and casting spells on the peoples of Sarawak. The Churches have to stand up and pray against the spells and black magics of these Bomohs or witch-doctors.

The context of the article for "BN" means "Black Neons" and not coalition of the govt. Black Neons is used because these politicians are under the spellbound by Black Magic of the Bomohs employed by Taib. Don't vote for BN; vote for JESUS.

Thank you.