What would Allah do?

There is something very, very wrong with the logic of the Malaysian government here.

What it is effectively saying is that even though the Court has granted non-Muslims the right to use the word “Allah” they should not exercise this right because the government is unable or unwilling to protect their rights.

Racial conflict is the bogeyman that successful Malaysian governments have used to cow the populace into submission.

It is the government’s job to protect the rights of all of its citizens – not just citizens of one race – as determined by the judiciary. A government that is not able to protect the rights of its citizens is a government that is either impotent and afraid to stand up for what’s right and to do what’s right, or using racial conflict as a mere excuse to deprive some citizens of their rights.

Lets see what the citizens say in the next by-election or general election

AFP: Malaysia court suspends ‘Allah’ ruling

(AFP) – 1 day ago

KUALA LUMPUR — A Malaysian court on Wednesday suspended a ruling that allowed a Catholic newspaper to use the word “Allah”, after the government argued the decision could cause racial conflict.

Malaysia’s high court ruled last week that the Herald weekly had the right to use the word “Allah”, after a long-running dispute with the government in the Muslim-majority nation.

The paper has been using the word as a translation for “God” in its Malay-language section, but the government argued it should be used only by Muslims.

Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail welcomed the high court’s decision to issue a stay order pending an appeal on the ruling in favour of the church, which triggered a series of protests from Muslim groups.

“I made the request for a stay as it is a matter of national interest,” Abdul Gani said at the court.

“We do not want the matter delayed and cause all kinds of tensions in the country” he told reporters. “I believe the Court of Appeal will hear the case very soon.”

The Herald’s editor Father Lawrence Andrew warned of a campaign of intimidation including hacker attacks against the weekly’s website, protest threats and widespread criticism in the media over last week’s ruling.

“We believe these actions (are designed) to create a climate of fear and a perceived threat to national security so as to pressure the court in reversing its decision,” he said in a statement.

Outside the court, Father Lawrence said the Herald had agreed to the suspension of the controversial ruling.