Malaysia Softens Ban On Use Of Word `Allah`

Publications must now carry a disclaimer say they are not intended for Muslims.

 Malaysia has imposed limits on how the word "Allah" can be used by Christian publications but has softened an outright ban that stoked religious tension.

The government had earlier decreed that non-Muslims could not even use the word as it would inflame the sensitivities of Muslim Malays, who make up 60 percent of the 27 million population. Indians and Chinese make up the rest.

The ban had been aimed at a Catholic newspaper that circulates in Sabah and Sarawak on Borneo Island, where most tribal people converted to Christianity more than a century ago.

Religious authorities objected chiefly to the word "Allah" being used in place of "God" in the Malay language in reference to the Christian God.

Publications must now carry a disclaimer say they are not intended for Muslims.

"We are somewhat pleased with the government relaxing the ban," said Father Lawrence Andrew, editor of "Herald -- the Catholic Weekly."

"We have followed what they wanted but there are still thorny issues."

Ethnic minorities in Malaysia are free to practice a variety of religions, including Christianity, but frequently complain that their rights are being trampled.

Malaysian Christians get most of their bibles from Indonesia, where the word Allah is freely used for God. The Malaysian language is very similar to Indonesian.

The new ruling states that failing to endorse Christian texts could lead to fines or imprisonment.

"This is an unfair imposition and an unwarranted restriction on the practice of Christian religion in this country," said Reverand Hermen Shastri, secretary-general to the Council of Churches of Malaysia.

"People are now in a position of being in possession of a prohibited document."