The Walk of Life

Malaysia is now under the Eyes Of The World! I was watching the Aljahzeera Interview with some Malaysians on the use of the ‘A’ Word Issue. I can't help but noticed the vague reasons given for why the Malaysian Islamic Groups were against the use of this word by the Christians!

Even the statements by the Home Ministry can only say ‘Malaysia is Unique’! Is being unique justify the objection? Hardly any concrete reasons given. In what way is the uniqueness of the Malays in Malaysia related to feel so strongly about this? I don't really know because no answers were given by the Home Ministry.

RPK posted on Malaysia-today suggesting that perhaps the contention is the conversion of Muslims to Christianity! I would think that this is like a two-edged sword as well, meaning Christians can also convert to Islam if the use of the ‘A’ Word seems to create confusion so to say. Are the Islamic Groups not happy about this? Moreover why aren't the church worried? Hemm! Perhaps the Christians are more established in their faith than Muslims are in theirs! Another big question that begs answers!

I also noticed one interviewee just said that all his Christian or Roman Catholic friends he knows never uses the ‘A’ word in their prayers or devotion! Firstly, this gentlemen seems not to have any Christian East Malaysian friends for then he would have known that they do use the ‘A’ word. Secondly from such a small sampling such as a personal circle of friends, it does not mean other Christians do not use the ‘A’ word! Even if so, is that a reason to object? Rather a vague answer again.

One elderly gentlemen seems to be confused with the issue for he mentioned that why now the Christians want to use the ‘A’ word!!! I guess little did he realized that the ‘A’ word has been used by Christians in Sabah and Sarawak long before Malaysia or even Malaya gain Independence and to me the Christian asking why now makes more sense! After all it was the Home Ministry out of the blues started to forbid the use of this word plus a few others a few years back when it was totally fine for more than 40 over years or longer. Yes! Why Now? Is there a bigger agenda hiding behind all these hoo-hah!

Another interviewee seem to say 'the ‘A’ word is very close to the Muslims heart' and he keep repeating this a few times and unable to move on from there! Also not really an answer as to why the objection. I am sure the ‘A’ word is also very close to the Christians heart as well.

However, I am rather impressed by the answers given by the Christian interviewee though. It looks like the Christians are asking for a good reason why and they are also open to inter-faith dialogue to resolve the issue whereas the Government and the Islamic Groups just say forbidden to use which lead to some emotional people loose control and started bombing churches. He sort of asking for a good reason for the church to withdraw otherwise the church is seen to be bullied into submission and that's a wrong message to send to anyone in this country who claims to be Democratic, obeying the Laws and the Constitution.

This brings to mind what Dr. Mahathir said that this issue cannot be settled by the Courts! Well, not by the Courts i.e. by Law and in addition cannot hold inter-faith discussion, then what other venue? Only a man as smart as him can answer and all I can say is neither by bombing churches can this be solved.

Well, taken all these statements and interviews, it seems like the Muslims could hardly venture a solid defense as to why they object except mentioning about sensitivities, close to their hearts, the word only for Muslims in Malaysia, or a copy-right thing in Malaysia. No real solid reasons given really. Perhaps they do not want to say it out loud for fear of being ridiculed in the eyes of the world over some vague excuse or no excuse except to show power and using intimidation on minorities.

Also reading comments from other Muslim Scholars from US, Middle-East, Turkey, Indonesia etc they too are confounded as to why Malaysia is unique in this matter!

I also remembered some time back some Islamic Groups barged in to stop an inter-faith discussion! Now, after some church bombings, they are saying why not have discussion rather than going to court! Well if the inter-faith discussion was allowed by the Government and not pandering to the Islamic Group perhaps the Roman Catholic Church do not have to exercise their only option within their constitutional rights by going to the courts for justice and perhaps the bombings may not have happened! Anyway since both sides are positive about the inter-faith dialogue then there is still hope that the issue may be resolved amicably. I hope.