The “Allah” issue is likely to spark partisan jockeying and deep division until we build consensus on a fundamental question. Is our national language of Bahasa Melayu – or is it Bahasa Malaysia – the language of all Malaysians or does it just belong to those who profess Islam and practice Malay customs?
Bahasa Malaysia
Allah and the Malay language
(Blackboard pic by ilco / sxc.hu) IF the church were to agree to the ban of the word “Allah” for non-Muslims, would this solve our problems? The answer is no. Religious authorities in the West Malaysian states have banned more than the word “Allah”. In Pahang and Malacca, the word “nabi” (prophet) is banned, making […]
The language of equality
(Background pic by Sophokles; Queen Elizabeth I pic public domain. Source: Wiki commons) NOT surprisingly, the debate on the reversal of the English for Teaching Science and Mathematics (known by its Malay acronym PPSMI) policy is largely framed as a zero-sum choice between English and the so-called “mother tongue” languages. Many opponents of the reversal […]
Maths and science to revert to BM (Updated 5.52pm)
Updated 5.52pm, 8 July 2009 PUTRAJAYA, 8 July 2009: The teaching of science and mathematics will be reversed to Bahasa Malaysia, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced today. He also said the teaching of the two subjects in vernacular schools would be conducted in their mother tongue. The policy change, he added, would […]
The problem with the “Allah” ban
IT is bewildering that a gazette on such a significant matter of public interest as the use of the word “Allah” by non-Muslims was issued and then rescinded just 24 hours after it was announced. Did not Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar spot the mistake in the ruling, which he signed? The gazette, […]
Handling of “Allah” usage disappointing
COUNCIL of Churches of Malaysia (CCM) Youth is disappointed and deeply regrets the Home Ministry’s lack of order and clarity in its handling of the restriction over the usage of “Allah”, involving the Bahasa Malaysia edition of the Roman Catholic Church’s publication Herald. The lack of order and clarity is obvious from the earlier prohibition […]
Ipoh Timur Umno against multilingual signs
IPOH, 8 Dec 2008: Ipoh Timur Umno today expressed opposition to a proposal by Canning state assemblyperson Wong Kah Woh to have the road signs in Taman Cempaka here replaced with multilingual signs. Ipoh Timur Umno head Datuk Azian Osman said Wong’s suggestion was contrary to the Federal Constitution and showed disrespect for Bahasa Malaysia […]
Improve status of BM
KUALA TERENGGANU, 2 Dec 2008: The status of Bahasa Malaysia (BM) must be changed to the language of acquiring knowledge so that it could be developed to be on par with the English language, said Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim. He said that in line with the English language which was used as […]
Don’t make yoga fatwa a religious issue: Mahathir
KUALA LUMPUR, 25 Nov 2008: Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad today urged the relevant parties not to turn the National Fatwa Council’s decision to bar Muslims from practising yoga into a religious issue. “If they (National Fatwa Council) believe it is wrong, then it is wrong. It is unfortunate that other people think […]
