CATHOLIC CHURCH ALLOWED TO PROCEED WITH "ALLAH"

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KUALA LUMPUR 000365

SIPDIS

FOR EAP/MTS AND DRL -- RANDALL BRANDT

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/14/2018
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PINR SCUL KIRF KISL MY
SUBJECT: CATHOLIC CHURCH ALLOWED TO PROCEED WITH "ALLAH"
CHALLENGE

KUALA LUMP 00000365 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: POLITICAL SECTION CHIEF MARK D. CLARK, REASON 1.4 (B AND
D).


1. (C) Summary: Malaysia's Catholic Church, challenging a
government ban on use of the word "Allah" by non-Muslims, has
won its first round in court on May 5. Church contacts told
us the government was shocked by the strong reaction of the
Catholic Church against the ban of "Allah," given that the
GOM and the Church had quietly settled previous disputes out
of the public arena. The public drawing of a line by the
Catholic Church may mark a decision by Church leaders to
attempt to push back against perceived politicization of
Islam at the expense of wider civil society. In comments to
the Ambassador, the Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur was not
optimistic regarding the eventual outcome of the "Allah"
case. End Summary.

Challenge in court
--------------


2. (SBU) The Catholic Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur has won
the right to challenge the government's ban on the use of
"Allah" by non-Muslims. On February 12, the Ministry of
Internal Security issued an order to the Titular Roman
Catholic Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur to stop using the word
"Allah" in the Catholic weekly, The Herald. The High Court's
May 5 decision found cause for a judicial review of
government's ban, issued under the Ministry of Internal
Security's publishing guidelines. The court also granted the
Herald the right to continue using "Allah" until a final
judicial decision. The weekly newspaper carries reports
about the Catholic community in English, Malay, Chinese and
Tamil. It also frequently publishes articles critical of
government policies, especially those dealing with human
rights, migrant workers, and religious freedom. Most
recently in March, the paper published articles advising
Malaysians to "vote their conscience," seen as an indirect
endorsement of the opposition in the March 8 election. The
Herald wants the courts to declare null and void the ban on
non-Muslims using "Allah," and to affirm that the word
"Allah" is not exclusive to the religion of Islam.

Banned from using the word "Allah"
--------------


3. (U) According to the former Minister in the Prime
Minister Department, Abdullah Mohamad Zain, only Muslims can
use "Allah," otherwise Muslims may become "confused." Deputy
Internal Security Minister Johari Baharum echoed Zain's
sentiments by saying only Muslims can use "Allah" as it is a
"Muslim word." Dr. Syed Ali Tawfik, Executive Director of
the Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia (AKIM),a
government institute, argued that the Bible does not contain
a specific name for God whereas the Quran uses Allah. This,
he stated, clearly shows that God in Islam and God in
Christianity are different. He claimed the Catholic
plaintiff, the Herald's editor, did not represent the
Catholic community, but instead intended to create confusion
and provoke Muslims.


4. (U) In its application for judicial review, the Catholic
Church argued that Article 11 of the Federal Constitution,
which covers religious freedom, protects the Church's use of
"Allah." The Church's legal counsel also pointed out that
"Allah" was in use centuries before Islam's establishment.
In 2007, GOM attempted to deny re-issuance of the Herald's
publishing license for using "Allah" but granted the permit
unconditionally following vocal protests from the Catholic
community. In February the GOM again tried to reinstitute
the ban as a condition for the Herald's license renewal.


5. (C) Father Lawrence, editor of the Herald, told us the
Government was shocked by the vocal and strong reaction of
the Church against the ban of "Allah" and the Church's
decision to pursue a court decision. The GOM and the Church
had quietly settled previous disputes out of the public
arena. Following the May 5 initial ruling, the Archbishop of
Kuala Lumpur confided to the Ambassador that he was not
optimistic the courts would decide in favor of the Church.


6. (C) Comment: Senior Church leaders, as well as parish
priests, voiced their concerns to us regarding their
perceptions of a growing encroachment of Islam on Malaysia's
wider civil society. The public drawing of a line by the
Catholic Church may mark a decision by Church leaders to
attempt to push back against the gradual politicization of
Islam within Malaysia. Thus far, the Herald's case has not
drawn much attention from Malaysia's Muslim community, but
this could change as the Catholic Church pursues the matter

KUALA LUMP 00000365 002.2 OF 002


further in court.
KEITH