I would like to quote from the letter Allah term unique, exclusive .

‘Sure, ‘Allah’ is also used by the Christian Arabs and not only them. Even pre-Islamic Arabs also used the term. But among themselves, the Arabs know which 'Allah' you are talking about which is not the case among the Malays.’

Although I am a non-Malay, I know this sounds very insulting to the Malays. Was An Old Timer trying to tell us that the Malays in our country cannot to differentiate which Allah the Christians are talking about? Looks like it. He or she looks up to the Arabs but not the Malays. He or she was saying the Arabs knows how to tell the difference but not the Malays.

Recently, I attended at forum on Islamisation at our church and one of the speakers was a prominent Muslim professor. He was upset the government banned the word 'Allah' with the reason it would 'confuse the Malays'.

'Confuse the Malays' - that was the part that made him angry. He said he felt so insulted because the government was telling the world that the Malays get easily confused - exactly what An Old Timer had pointed out in his/her letter.

I have a few Malay friends and all of them told me they don't mind at all Christians using the word 'Allah' as they know ‘Allah’ does not belongs to them exclusively. Among themselves, they know which ‘Allah’ the Christians are referring to. One of them even told me that the ban of the term ‘Allah’ had nothing to do with religion but everything to do with politics.

I would like to end by quoting the Quran , Chapter 29:46

‘And dispute ye not with the People of the Book, except with means better (than mere disputation), unless it be with those of them who inflict wrong (and injury): but say, "We believe in the revelation which has come down to us and in that which came down to you; Our Allah and your Allah is one; and it is to Him we bow (in Islam).’