Leave Selangor if Unhappy with Sultan's Decree

Prof Emeritus Dr Mahmood Zuhdi Abd Majid, who specializes on Islamic law at the International Islamic University of Malaysia (IIUM) called on Selangorians who dispute their state Ruler’s command reserving the use of “Allah” for Muslims only, to leave Selangor.

 

Last Thursday, 2014, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah (left) had renewed his decree barring non-Muslims in his state from using the Arabic word for God, including in the Malay-language Christian bible, the Al-Kitab, and in the national Catholic weekly, Herald.

 

The 1988 state law, which was passed by the then BN government, prohibits non-Muslims from using 35 Arabic words and phrases in their faiths, including “Allah”, “Nabi” (prophet), “Injil” (gospel) and “Insya’Allah” (God willing).

 

The biggest bone of contention, however, has been over the word “Allah”, which Malaysian Christians and Sikhs say, also exist in their holy books to refer to the almighty, in citing their constitutional right to use the word.

 

Seven days earlier, HRH had urged Muslims not to criticize fatwas, especially those released in Selangor, as he ‎was personally responsible for approving the edicts.

 

"A fatwa that is issued in Selangor is only valid after it has obtained my approval and consent," said the sultan.

 

Noted. But isn’t fallibility a human condition? All of us must learn to accept fallibility within ourselves.

 

In less than six months, Sunway University Toastmasters Club have already earned 8-and-a-half DCP points for the 2014-15 term. Not bad for a club that is only in their third year of existence!

 

 

I was back at Mercu UEM on Tuesday evening – this time to attend the Bangsar Toastmasters meeting. My dedicated evaluator, Meyyappa was there and I took the opportunity to deliver a CC speech #7 titled “The Mind that Grows”. The speech was okay – it wasn’t that good a speech – and I am grateful that my evaluator had helpfully pointed out areas of improvement which I need to work on. Incidentally, both of us were voted Best Speaker and Best Evaluator respectively.

 

I also took up an additional role as Speech Evaluator for a Bangsar Toastmaster but her speech made me cringe. Other than that, it was a good meeting. I would give it a score of a 5 over 10.