Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Dompok Defends Malay Language Bible

At the recently held 15th UPKO Congress, its President, Tan Sri Bernard Dompok called on the government to return to the status quo of allowing Malay language Bibles to be circulated among Christians in the country.

Recently, it was reported that 15,OOO Bibles have been seized by the Federal government. This coupled with the fact that some states including Sabah have issued decrees banning the usage of certain words among Christians have created concern among Malaysian Christians, especially those in Sabah and Sarawak where Malay is the primary language of the Christian church.

It is hoped that Dompok's call would be heeded by the government. But then again, the fact that certain leaders in the government such as Datuk Ahmad Zahid Hamidi are against Christians using Malay in their worship is worrying. Ahmad Zahid had once criticised Dompok in a West Malaysian daily for defending the use of Malay-language Bibles.

The opposition too is not short of such leaders. Bandar Baru Kulim Member of Parliament (MP) Zulkifli Nordin is also known for his opposition to Malay-language Bibles. These people should know that Malay language Bibles were used in Sabah long before the late Tunku Abdul Rahman proposed the formation of Malaysia.

Are these leaders then against the spirit of Malaysia? The real hurdle now is for people like Dompok to directly engage such narrow-minded leaders.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

I find it inappropriate for Dompok to bring the issue of the Bible in his speech at the last 15th UPKO Congress in the presence of Prime Minister Najib Razak. What has it got to do with the UPKO Congress?

As a Federal Cabinet Minister, he should have brought it up in the Cabinet and fight for it tooth and nail. I believe Dompok brought this subject matter for the ears of his voters only that he portrays himself as their hero. Wrong!!! He has offended his Malay voters instead.

You notice that the Prime Minister did not even bother to touch on this issue when he delivered his speech? Instead, the PM told the UPKO leaders who were wearing the Kadazan head gears with the sign of the cross, and the PM reminded them that,” he hoped they are true Malaysians at heart.”

Anonymous said...

The symbol on the "sigar" has nothing to do with the Christian cross. The Kadazandusuns have been wearing them since pre-Christian days. Sabahan Muslims would never be offended by what Dompok said as they have accepted Christian usage of the word Allah for a long time. Sabahan Muslims are more accepting and tolerant compared to Malayan Muslims. Obviously the PM did not have the guts to talk straight. It seems he prefers not to offend extremists in his party such as Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Anonymous said...

This only shows that the leaders in Tanah (Semenanjung) Melayu still keeping the policy of Ketuanan Melayu! Language has not limits, only those narrow minded leaders in Tanah Melayu thinks that they has the rights to stop this "Arab imported words" to use by other religion&race... it's like the frogs in a well-- 1Malaysia is a well living with brainless Semenanjung Malay frogs.
So, no worries, just let the "Bahasa Malaysia" ban this "Arab imported word". However, Tahan (Semenanjung) Melayu gov has no rights to ban the Bahasa Austronesian (Southeast Asia) from using this "Arab imported word" regardless race or religion wherever in the world!!!
Just let the Malays in Tanah (Semenanjung) Melayu living like the story "King with his new invisible cloth" and show off to the world how brainless are they.

Anonymous said...

Don't worry, the Bahasa Melayu in Malaysia only belongs to a sub-ethnic language in the so called "Malay Polynesian" region.

Austronesian is the actual ethnic/race in this "Malay Polynesian" region with Bahasa Java, Bugis, Tagalog, Dayak, Kadazandusun Murut, Suluk... used in Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Timor, Puapa, and many India-Pacific islands, where the language has no limit of usage.
Let the Tanah Melayu Penisular put themself in isolate from the rest of "Malay Polynesian" world by limiting the "Arab imported" words, cultures, and lifestyle to call it their own. Let them feel great/proud of their own only... and the rest of the Austronesian ethnic will eventually look down on them.

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