KUALA LUMPUR: In a new twist to the controversial prohibition on the use of the Allah word, the Home Ministry has allowed Christians to use the Allah word with conditions.

In a gazette signed by Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar, the new move comes into force on ten days ago 16 Feb 2009 known as Gazette PU A 62 under section 22 (1)(c) of the Internal Security Act 1969 titled as Internal Security (Prohibition On Use of Specific Words on Document and Publication) Order 2009.

The gazatte states:

Prohibition on use of specific words on document and publication 2. (1) The printing, publication, sale, issue, circulation and possession of any document and publication relating to Christianity containing the words “Allah”, “Kaabah”, “Baitullah” and “Solat” are prohibited unless on the front cover of the document and publication are written with the words “for christianity”.

(2) The words “for christianity ” referred to in subparagraph (1) shall be written clearly in font type Arial of size 16 in bold.

A spokesman from the publication and Quranic text divisionof the ministry told mysinchew he was unaware of the gazatte and would check with its legal division.

A lawyer who preferred to remain annonymous said he had just received the gazatte notification through an online legal library service.

He said for practical reasons, only the Allah word is of importance as Christians do not use the other three words cited in the gazette.

“This is good news for Christians as the new move acknowleges the right of Christians to use the Allah word even though with conditions,” he said.

He said what the gazette means is that hencefoth, all Bahasa Bibles or Al Kitab must now be stamped with the phrase “For Christianity.” it really depends on Christians themselves to decide how to view the new move.

He said they can take it as a pun and which is what it really is that the Bible is for Christianity.

But the problem, he pointed ou, is that henceforth all Al Kitab and Chrsitian publications in Bahasa Malaysia must be stamped with the condition even existing copies and this makes it a logistic nightmare.

A Christian leader said this matter has to be discussed first as the churches are not even aware of the new ruling.

He expressed surprise that this new gazatte has come into force when there are two cases before the courts for a determination on the constitutionality of the earlier prohibition by the ministry. The Catholic Church is suing the government over its insistence that they cannot use the Allah word in the bahasa section of their weekly publication.

The Sidang Injil Borneo Sabah (Evangelical Church) is also suing the government over confiscation of their Christian publications imported from Indonesia which contain the word Allah.

The Sikhs have also applied to intervene in the suits as they said the outcome would impact them as they too use the word Allah in their Holy Scriptures. Subsequently, a slew of applications from the various state Islamic authorities have been filed with the courts. Thye claim that the civil court has no jurisdiction over the matter.

Previously, the Home Ministry in out of court attempts had suggested churches stamp the word “For Christians Only” on the Al Kitab and Bahasa publications. But this was not acceptable to the churches which had counter offered with the phrase - “This is a Christian Publication.” But this was rejected by the ministry.

The lawyer also pointed out that the fact that the gazatte singles out only Christians and not Sikhs or other people of other faiths only serves to confirm the contention of Christians that the prohibition is specifically targeted at Christians in violation of their human and constitutional rights on freedom of religion.

Hearing on the Herald case resumes at the Kuala Lumpur High Court Friday (27 Feb). (By BOB TEOH/ MySinchew)