I refer to Malaysiakini report Malay-language edition of Catholic paper banned: Editor .

It is indeed ludicrous for the government to ban the Malay-languange edition of The Herald , a Catholic newspaper. On the one hand, they are making vigorous efforts to promote the usage of Bahasa Malaysia and on the other hand, disallowing its usage in some religious publications.

The government has always been known to issue contradicting and conflicting statements and implementing and enforcing actions to undermine its own efforts and policies.

In this instance, what is there to fear? Mind you, we are living in the 21 ^st century and there is ample opportunity for every one to seek whatever information one desires from the electronic media in whatever language one seeks or is knowledgeable in.

People's insatiable hunger for knowledge cannot be restricted or curtailed especially at this time when people are better-educated and are always looking to broaden their knowledge and understanding even on the religious practices of other faiths.

I, through my religious teachings and also based on my own research which is never restricted by my religion, have a very clear idea about what I believe in and in what direction I am moving in as far as my faith is concerned.

It also does not prevent me from learning more about other faiths which, if looked at in the proper perspective and context, only preach tolerance, love and understanding of each other. Thus I am firm in my faith and not easily swayed.

All we ask is for the government is to be broad-minded when handling matters on religion. This is a situation of government paranoia at its highest order. First, exclusivity of the word ‘Allah’ that only exists in Malaysia and now another first in the world, to prevent a Catholic paper’s Malay-language edition.

Is our home ministry trying to re-write Arabic history that has clearly shown Christians and Muslims living in brotherly love, sharing the same language and practising an almost common faith with only slightly different interpretations ?

Coming up with inconsiderate and ridiculous restrictions only creates a lot of ill-feeling and suspicion among the people. Christianity is a universal religion like Islam.

It reaches out to the far corners of the world and the faithful feel at home praising God in their own language rather than a language they do not know or have very little knowledge of.

Preventing a person from fully practising his/her faith is seen as a violation of human rights.

Let us all move forward in the true spirit of Malaysia, a country where all the major religions of the world are present and blessed by God with so many good things.