The Noughties decade has closed at the end of 2009. What will they call this decade 2010-2019 ?
It looks like we (Malaysians) are in for some feuds among Muslims ( the extremes and the moderates) and the non-Muslims (Christians).
All because a non-Muslim judge allowed a Catholic publication to use the word Allah in its Malay language publication, as a translation for the word God.
The editor of the publication said it was meant for the Christian natives in East Malaysia who are not proficient in the English language. It is claimed that the natives had been using the name since centuries ago.
The name Allah has and is still used by Arab speaking Christians in Egypt, Syria, Lebanon and other Arabic countries.
But here, the majority Malay Muslims insist that the name Allah is exclusively for Muslims and cannot be used by other religions for fear of contradicting and confusing the Muslims.
After Friday prayers today, many groups of Muslims were seen protesting the court's decision with
shouts of Allah Akbar (Allah is Great) in front of mosques and a big group was reported protesting in front of the KL high court.
I can only say that the govt was wicked to let a non-Muslim judge (Judge Lau Bee Lan) make the decision in such a sensitive issue, which a Muslim judge dares not handle ( even if he agrees).
Today we heard about the death of Tok Mat (Mohamed Rahmat) a former minister of information in Dr Mahathir's cabinet.
It was very well known that Allahyarham Tok Mat was the best Propaganda director and spin master in the Malaysian govt.
And we also heard about the death of judge Augustine Paul. He was the judge in Anwar Ibrahim's sodomy and graft trial. He always dismissed defence lawyers arguments with the word ' not relevant'.
No matter how you personally feel about these gentlemen, remember they were people who had families and friends who love and will mourn them.
Happy New Year 2010. Ten years more to achieve developed nation status. (Remember Wawasan 2020).
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