Life's Great Expectations!

2. NYT: Malay provocation - Philip Bowring Wed Jan 20, 2010 6:44 am (PST) http://www.themalay sianinsider. com/index. php/opinion/ breaking- views/50156- malay-provocatio n--philip- bowring Malay provocation - Philip Bowring JAN 20 - One ought to be able to laugh at the absurdity of it. But the message is one of ignorance, religious and racial prejudice and political opportunism. Last week, the Malaysian government declared that Christians in one part of the country could use "Allah" as the word for God when speaking Malay, but that those in most of the country could not. This is the same government that is currently running a public relations campaign called One Malaysia emphasizing the common identity of the nation's racial and religious mix. In reality, a government dominated by the United Malays National Organization (UMNO) is using spurious religious/linguisti c arguments to shore up

1. hartalmsm: Why I use 'Allah' - a layman's perspective Wed Jan 20, 2010 6:35 am (PST) http://hartalmsm. wordpress. com/2010/ 01/20/why- i-use-allah- a-laymans- perspective/ Why I use 'Allah' - a layman's perspective January 20, 2010 By Pastor Eu Hong Seng In the current ongoing debate, some are of the opinion that Christians should just give in and forego the use of the word "Allah" so that the threats and attacks on churches will stop and Malaysia can continue to enjoy her peace and move on unhindered to developed nation status. Now, more than ever the country needs clear-minded Malaysians and not "confused" citizens, Christians included. There are ten salient facts and reasons and I would like to address these to the ordinary man in the street and lay people in the Church. (1) 1. The use of "Allah" predates Islam "Allah" is the Arabic