Accepting an imperfect solution

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A multiracial and multi-religious nation like Malaysia faces the constant challenge of keeping the ‘genie’ of racial and religious discord and violence in the bottle and  now that the bottle has been opened by the ‘Allah’ issue, we are faced with the seemingly insurmountable task of putting the ‘genie’ back.

While both sides stand firm in the polemic on the right of Christians to use the word ‘Allah’ in their worship and publications, religious unrest is beginning to rear its ugly head, threatening to tear the very fabric of our nation.

The lifting of the ban in East Malaysia announced by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Legal and Parliamentary Affairs) Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz, in an exclusive interview with the KTS stable of dailies – The Borneo Post, Oriental Daily and Utusan Borneo, has partially addressed the issue but the debate rages on while the search for a solution remains elusive.

A logical way to deal with the issue is to go to court to seek a solution through the judicial process and that was what Archbishop Murphy Pakiam did.

The High Court ruled in his favour and logically this ruling should have gone a long way in resolving the issue, but it only stoked the fire of religious fervour leading to arson attacks on several churches and not even the stay of execution of the ruling following an appeal by the government could douse that flame.

Pakiam might have won a battle, but winning the war is another matter and it is not likely that the result of the government’s appeal against the High Court ruling will put an end to this controversy either.

And so we are now faced with an unsolvable problem that must be solved before the situation completely gets out of hand.

The only way to find light at the end of this long dark tunnel we are in, is to first accept that there is no solution that would satisfy everyone and that one party, or both parties, will feel aggrieved at whatever decision is arrived at eventually.

Ultimately, we will have to fall back on consultations in the search for a compromise. It is not likely to be perfect, but hopefully it can be one that lays the groundwork, no matter how flimsy, on which we can work towards national reconciliation and restoring acceptance of our religious and racial diversity.

Can it be achieved?

Given the present circumstances, it will be impossible if we are looking for a perfect solution.

We have to be sensible enough to first look for a way out and unite in scaling that long uphill road to reach the light at the end of the tunnel we are in.

And what about God’s will in this row over how we address Him?

Perhaps we are overlooking the key to the solution of the whole issue – the belief shared by Muslims and Christians in the submission to God’s will and guidance.

Despite their different perceptions of God, Christians and Muslims must not ignore the fact that they are worshipping the same God – the God of Abraham.

It is very sad that instead of standing firm on this common ground, we are instead mired in the morass of our differences.