I refer to the Malaysiakini report Allah issue from another perspective .

Professor Syed Husin Ali is to be commended on this comprehensive learned article. He has correctly assessed that the controversy over the use of the word ‘Allah’ by non-Muslims has continued unabated, resulting in the government losing direction in principle, and Umno members clearly becoming confused

It is therefore important that other perspectives as well be considered for possible solutions that all Malaysians might accept.

In this connection, I am surprised that the professor has failed to take into account the British colonial perspective,as envisaged particularly in the policies of ‘indirect rule’ and the institutionalisation of religion that had the effect of recognising Islam as the religion of the Malays

This is not the place to enter into an analysis within the theoretical frameworks of imperialism, colonialism and ‘internal colonialism’ and their impact on the faith and identity of colonised peoples.

But while the contention that non-Muslims had used the word Allah since pre-colonial times may be debatable, it is submitted that a brief social historical review of how Islam came to be used to reinforce colonialism would provide a better understanding of the totalily of the problem we are now facing.

Islam as an institution was clearly accepted as part of ‘internal colonialism’ policies, so that it was brought within the overall jurisdiction of colonial authority for instance, through the creation of the ‘majlis agama’.