I refer to the letter Remove 'Allah' from state anthems .

I see the reasoning of Anthony J’s in asking the removal of the word ‘Allah’ from the various lyrics of the state anthems. That stand may be consonant to Anthony, but the Umno-led government would like all Malaysians to believe that Muslims will be confused over the use of such words by non-Muslims.

Amidst all this confusion on the state anthem, I would like to ask some Muslims in the Umno government about our national philosophy that is enshrined in what we know as the ‘Rukun Negara’. The opening line is ‘Kerpecayaan Kepada Tuhan’ and I understand that to mean ‘Belief in God’.

Today, I am told by my government that the Muslims believe in ‘Allah’ and ‘Allah’ is the way Muslims refer to their God and this word can only be exclusively used by Muslims.

If that is correct, all the declaration and pledges by Malaysian using the Rukun Negara are only applicable to non-Muslims and not Muslims. What will the government of Abdullah Ahmad Badawi do now? They cannot change the word ‘Tuhan’ to ‘Allah’ because this pledge for the national philosophy is taken by all Malaysians - Muslim and non-Muslim alike.

Personally, I have absolutely no problems at all if the word ‘Tuhan’ is replaced with ‘Allah’ in the Rukun Negara. But my government is telling me that Muslims will get confused and will be offended by my insensitiveness. I know for a fact that my Muslim friends are not confused or sensitive, but the Umno-led government is insisting on the opposite.

In such a confusing state of affairs, the last thing I want to do is offend the sensitivities of my Muslim friends. Christians in East Malaysia and the Sikhs who have been using ‘Allah’ to describe their God now have to abandon this term.

Why? Because Islam Hadhari has decreed so and don’t you ever dare to be insensitive about it in the name of preserving religious harmony in Malaysia.