KUALA LUMPUR: The Herald, a Catholic weekly, will know on Dec 30 whether it can refer to God as “Allah.”
High Court judge Lau Bee Lan today set the date for the decision after hearing lengthy arguments over an application to challenge the Government’s order prohibiting the weekly from using the word “Allah.”
The publisher, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur Tan Sri Murphy Pakiam, 71, filed the application on Feb 16, asking the court to declare that the use of the name is not exclusive to Islam and that the weekly is entitled to use it.
He named the Home Minister and the Government as respondents.
Senior Federal Counsel Mahamad Naser Disa yesterday submitted that any form of misuse of the sacred word would be an insult to the country’s official religion and the Federal Constitution.
“The applicant has failed to prove that the prohibition order resulted in them not being able to profess their religion,” he said.
“The archbishop also failed to show that the use of the word is an integral part of Christianity.”
Lawyer Mubashir Mansor, who acted for six state religious councils, said restrictions under the Federal Constitution were not meant to discriminate but only to ensure the preservation of Islam.
Lead counsel for the applicant Porres Royan submitted that the ban was invalid as it infringed upon the archbishop’s constitutional rights.
Co-counsel Benjamin Dawson said the case was about whether the minister could dictate to a religious group what to call God.
FMT
16/12/09
High Court judge Lau Bee Lan today set the date for the decision after hearing lengthy arguments over an application to challenge the Government’s order prohibiting the weekly from using the word “Allah.”
The publisher, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur Tan Sri Murphy Pakiam, 71, filed the application on Feb 16, asking the court to declare that the use of the name is not exclusive to Islam and that the weekly is entitled to use it.
He named the Home Minister and the Government as respondents.
Senior Federal Counsel Mahamad Naser Disa yesterday submitted that any form of misuse of the sacred word would be an insult to the country’s official religion and the Federal Constitution.
“The applicant has failed to prove that the prohibition order resulted in them not being able to profess their religion,” he said.
“The archbishop also failed to show that the use of the word is an integral part of Christianity.”
Lawyer Mubashir Mansor, who acted for six state religious councils, said restrictions under the Federal Constitution were not meant to discriminate but only to ensure the preservation of Islam.
Lead counsel for the applicant Porres Royan submitted that the ban was invalid as it infringed upon the archbishop’s constitutional rights.
Co-counsel Benjamin Dawson said the case was about whether the minister could dictate to a religious group what to call God.
FMT
16/12/09
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