The objection to Christians in Malaysia using the word ‘Allah’ is premised on two arguments. Firstly, that the use of the word ‘Allah’ could cause confusion or cause Muslims to be confused and secondly, that Christians have a hidden agenda and a secret motive in insisting to use the word ‘Allah’.

Thus, like a broken record, Zulkifli Nordin and the other like-minded are unrelenting in their zeal that Christians cannot use the word Allah as in their view, it is exclusive to Muslims.

If I may ask, if there is any proof that Christians in Malaysia have been confusing Muslims in Malaysia by using the word ‘Allah’ or that Muslims have become confused by Christians using the word Allah.

Empirical data shows that the opposite has been happening and it is not the Christians who have been confusing Muslims or having a hidden agenda trying to convert Muslims. ‘Milenia’ magazine, in its February 2010 edition refering to Jakim's portal lists out 55 deviant Muslim-based groups.

These movements - according to Jakim - are deviant groups and are out to confuse Muslims. Don't these groups who have and or are confusing Muslims pose a greater threat and are actually a danger to Muslims than the misconceived perceived danger by Christians?

According to ‘Milenia’, some of these movements have redefined themselves. For example, Al-Arqam has redefined itself into to Al-Rufaqa and is now known as ‘Global Ikhwan’. In fact, according to the mufti of Selangor, even learned professionals are involved in these movements.

Thus, it begs the question, who is actually confusing Muslims and who is having hidden motives or motive?. The ‘Herald’ for example dutifully complies with the home ministry's requirement to place in its masthead the advisory ‘For non-Muslim's Only’. Clearly, the Herald cannot cause confusion since its target audience is non-Muslims and no one else. Since the ‘Herald’ is for non- Muslims, there is no reason for Muslims to read the newspaper.

Similarly the unfounded allegation that the ultimate motive and agenda of the Christians is to convert Muslims is also without any basis. Christians know very well that it is an offence to evangelise to Muslims. Still, it does not stop some miscreants making allegations of thousands of Muslims becoming apostates.

The mufti of Perak once caused a national sensation by claiming that 100,000 Muslims had become apostates while 100,000 more have sought to do so. Naturally, the immediate focus was on the Christians. But the truth was revealed when Dr Mohd Azam Mohd Adil of the Universiti Teknologi Mara said that his studies showed that based on the figures from the National Registration Department, for the period between 1999 and 2003, there were only 220 changes of names from Muslims to non-Muslims and not the 100,000.

It is worth knowing that Jakim's statistics show that between 1990 and 2001, 11,818 Sabahans and 9,603 Sarawakians converted to Islam and by far these two states have the highest number of Muslim converts.

In fact, any perceived danger to Muslims does not come from the Christians. On the contrary, it is deviant Muslims groups which gives concern. The Malay advocacy group Teras, in 2006, said that the leader of Ariffin Mohamed's Ayah Pin sect had between 5,000-10,000 Malays. Just imagine what may be the number of followers for al-Arqam/ Rufaqa/ Global Ikhwan or other deviant groups which are regularly exposed.

So, what is the secret motive or agenda of the Christians which Zulkifly Noordin and his ilk continue to sensationalise and cast false aspersions on in that Christians are proselytising to the Muslims and planning to convert Muslims.

To prove his point, Zulkifly has even waved in the air some written material purportedly by Christians to show proof of the Christian agenda. Those written pamphlets could also be someone's mischief-making against the Christians, as proven in the recent surau-burning incident in Muar when the perpetrators who did the act were not (thankfully) Christians.

So the argument that Christians of trying to confuse Muslims or that there is a secret agenda and motive by the Christians to convert Muslims is nothing more than seeing a ghost where there is none. If only Zulkifli Noordin and others like him care to realise this.