I refer to the Malaysiakini report Church council: Thank-you, but...

I refer to the recent order by the home ministry to prohibit the word ‘Allah’ on Christian publications unless the front cover of these publication have the words ‘For Christianity’ stamped on them.

The home ministry has also decreed that "the words ‘For Christianity’ .. shall be written clearly in font type Arial of size 16 in bold’. The order was made Section 22(1)(c) of the Internal Security Act.

This restriction seems to be unnecessary and even overly-zealous. The home ministry has reasoned that this prohibition is necessary to prevent any breach of the peace.

From my observation, the only people who are capable of breaching the peace are politicians who become emotional and overreact.

This prohibition is contrary to Article 11(1) of the federal constitution which gives every person the right to profess, practice and propagate his religion. However, it is admitted that the right to propagate religion is subject to possible additional restrictions.

For example, Article 11(4) of the federal constitution allows the relevant legislative bodies (eg, the respective state assemblies of the various states) to legislate restrictions (not prohibitions) on the propagation of religion and such restrictions to be only amongst persons professing Islam.

This would mean that propagation is not restricted amongst non-Muslims. But each state legislative assembly has the right to decide on whether to restrict that propagation to Muslims only.

However, the Internal Security Act (ISA) is not a law made under Article 11(4) of the federal constitution. As such, it would seem that it cannot be used to restrict the propagation of religion among non-Muslims.

The ISA was not meant to restrict religious freedom among non-Muslims but to prevent terrorists from subverting the state. This means that the ISA cannot supercede provisions guaranteeing freedom of religion in our federal constitution.

The home minister cannot restrict the right of Christians to propagate their religion to other non- Muslims at all. This would be a gross injustice especially to East Malaysians who have been using the word ‘Allah’ for many decades.

It is the word that they have been so used to and they understand that it means ‘God’ for the Abrahamic faiths of the Middle East, including Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

The government through the home ministry seems intent on restricting religious freedom among non-Muslims and treating Muslims like children.

The time has come for the home ministry to behave with more maturity and respect religious freedom in this country where all Malaysians have recognised Islam as the official religion and that all other faiths can be practiced in peace without any hindrance or fear amongst Malaysians.