Council of Justices of Peace Malaysia in Sabah (CJPM) president Clarence Bongkos Malakun appeared to recant on his statement two days ago suggesting a 'compromise' on the use of the term Allah for God.

This about-turn comes in the wake of immense public outrage, as many viewed the suggestion to be more of a 'surrender'.

                           

herald court case 050508 "I am willing to listen to those who are more knowledgeable on the issue. But I want to hear what the proposals to solve the problem are. So far, there is none," he said.

He did not touch on the pending court appeal on the power, if any, of the home minister to prohibit Catholic weekly Herald from using the term Allah for God in its Bahasa Malaysia pages.

Malakun has been isolated as well on the Allah issue among his peers. They issued a separate statement , couched as a compromise as well, but offering a face-saving exit for the Home Ministry on the issue.

He also ventured that holding a dialogue among all leaders (of the faiths) was no longer a viable option. "We can have hundreds of dialogues but the matter (Allah) will not go away," he said.

Malakun's 'compromise', which received an icy reception, involved the Herald dropping the term Allah altogether.

He rationalised  that "the Malays need to be pacified and it's not necessary for Peninsular Malaysia to follow Sabah and Sarawak on the issue".

The Home Ministry meanwhile clarified in a dialogue with foreign diplomats in Malaysia yesterday that it is only against the term being used by Christians in print in Bahasa Malaysia.

Against donation drive

Elsewhere, in a new take on the issue, Malakun came out strongly against the idea of Christians in Sabah collecting donations for churches vandalised in Peninsular Malaysia over the past week.

"I have some doubts about the donation drive," said Malakun. "It is not helping to solve the problem but instead pouring more fuel into the fire. It indirectly encourages negative sentiments among Christians."

NONE The Sabah JP chief pointed out that the federal government had already donated RM500,000 to the Metro Tabernacle church in Kuala Lumpur which was the worst hit. CIMB (a government-linked corporation) has donated RM100,000.

Upko (United PasokMomogun KadazanDusunMurut Organisation) events secretary Philip Lasimbang is not amused by Malakun's comments on the donation drive and the Allah issue.

"The views by dissenting and narrow-knowledge individuals like Malakun are only deteriorating the current situation," he said. "Such comments should therefore be curbed to ease the situation."

He urged leaders in the state with knowledge of the actual situation and well-versed on religious issues to speak up.

Lasimbang, also political secretary to Upko chief and federal minister Bernard Dompok, pledged that the collection of donations would continue until Jan 15.

Upko Komulakan (Youth) Chief Ewon Benedick wants Malakun to explain away the existence of Bahasa Malaysia Bibles using the term Allah for God.

"We have also been using the term Allah for God in church services in Sabah for so long without any problems," he said while noting that the issue is only confined to the Bahasa Malaysia pages of the Herald.

Don't muddy the waters

bn supreme council mt meeting sapp sabah issue 190608 joseph kurup Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) president Joseph Kurup ( left ) questioned the need for Malakun to muddy the waters on the Allah issue with negative comments.

"Malakun has no capacity to advise Christians on the Allah issue even if he spoke as the CJPM president," said the federal deputy natural resources and environment minister. "This matter is before the court. It should be left to the court to decide."

He advised Malakun, also the PBRS founder-president, to refrain from sensitive comments when touching on religious issues.

Kurup's statement on the court case was echoed by Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) Youth Secretary Melong Yaming Dompok, Sabah Progressive Party (Sapp) president Yong Teck Lee, Sepanggar Umno chief Jumat Idris, Ranau MP Siringan Gubat and Pakatan Rakyat head for Sabah and Sarawak Jeffrey Kitingan, among others.

Sidang Injil Borneo (SIB) Pastor Mutang Dawat, in his response to Malakun, said everyone should remain calm and respect the sensitivity of other races.

"We give way to the court to decide and at the same time respect the existing unity which we have had for so long," he said. "All should let the legal system of the country to decide the issue and respect whatever decision the court makes."

Sabah Council of Churches president Rev Jerry Dusing pointed out that "differences of views and opinions have always been resolved amicably through meaningful dialogue and greater understanding".