ASIA/MALAYSIA - Church working with government to find juridical solution to “Allah” issue

Kuala Lumpur (Agenzia Fides) - "The situation is quiet and seems to be back to normal. There have been no new attacks. A legal solution is being sought to the question over the use of the name 'Allah;' the Church has entered into negotiations with the government through lawyers following the case. We trust and hope that we can find a good solution for everyone and one that is useful in bringing peace to the nation," Agenzia Fides was told by Fr. Augustine Julian, Secretary of the Bishops' Conference of Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei, during the Assembly of Bishops being held in Johor. The sessions focused on issues of pastoral character and the news that has come in from local churches, which reported that these days had been quiet, with no new attacks to report. The Bishops were able to give a sigh of relief in that sense.
Now they await the outcome of negotiations initiated by the government to bring a close to the matter, which as many observers note, "has had unexpected consequences." The story, note local sources of Fides, was far too manipulated by political parties for electoral reasons and in search of popular consent, but was likely to set off sparks amidst all Malaysian society.
Today many churches in Kuala Lumpur have the Malaysian flag hoisted, to stress that Christians consider themselves in all respects Malaysian citizens who love and respect their own nation, conscious of their rights and duties in a multi-ethnic and pluralistic society, under the banner of dialogue and peaceful coexistence.
Meanwhile, we can see the first consequences of the ruling of the High Court, relating to freedom of expression and religion: Jill Ireland, a Christian citizen from the State of Sarawak in Malaysian Borneo, has presented a case in a civil court for the confiscation of several CDs of a religious nature, containing the word Allah, purchased in Indonesia. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 13/01/2010)