Herald editor: Double-speak on ‘Allah’ a source of confusion
(MM) – The editor of Catholic weekly the Herald said those in government have not been able to come to an agreement even among themselves as to how to view the court’s ruling against the use of the word in the publication’s Bahasa Malaysia section.
The lack of clarity in Putrajaya’s interpretation of the Court of Appeal’s judgment on the “Allah” issue is only adding to the growing confusion surrounding the use of the word by non-Muslims nationwide, Father Lawrence Andrew said yesterday.
The editor of Catholic weekly the Herald said those in government have not been able to come to an agreement even among themselves as to how to view the court’s ruling against the use of the word in the publication’s Bahasa Malaysia section.
“I think there are two sides always to a situation, for instance Abu Talib said the ruling concerns for all (sic), both for the people of Sabah-Sarawak and Semenanjung,” he said, referring to retired Attorney-General Tan Sri Abu Talib Othman’s recent claim that Sabah and Sarawak cannot be exempted from the ruling.
“Whereas Gani Patail says the ruling is directed to Herald only,” Lawrence added, this time drawing attention to current Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail who maintained that the judgment is limited only to the weekly publication.
“There seems to be a yes and no approach at many levels… it is not the word ‘Allah’ that is creating confusion among the people, but it is some people who are interpreting a judgment differently. They are creating more confusion,” the priest told The Malay Mail Online when contacted.
Read more at: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/herald-editor-double-speak-on-allah-a-source-of-confusion