On the Dangerous Topics of God, Allah and Oh Tuhan

This is going to be a pretty controversial topic. For those who care, anyway. As you may or may not know, there is an issue with Christian newspapers using the name Allah to refer to God. From Reuters: Malaysia Christians battle with Muslims over Allah:

Those concerns led to the ban on the Catholic Herald newspaper's use of "Allah" to denote God. The Herald is now suing the government to overturn the ruling, made after it appeared the paper would be allowed to use "Allah" provided it stamped "For Christians" on the front page of the paper.

To some, it may seem like a "What's the big deal?" thing, while to others it's heresy. Let's try to shed a bit of light on it.

Language is what the issue boils down to, and let's not pretend that language doesn't matter. In England, 'pakis' is considered a derogatory term referring to Pakistanis, while in Malaysia, it's a fern. In America, 'bastard' is a derogatory term, while in France it's not unusual to find people named Bastard.

In the same vein, in Malaysia, Allah isn't a word referring to God in general, but a name and a proper noun referring specifically to the Muslim God. In Malay, the word Tuhan is used to refer to God in general, be He Christian, Muslim, Hindu or otherwise. Therefore, for a newspaper - a publication that should have a good command of language and custom - to use the world Allah to refer to the Christian God is a major faux-pas (fox pass). It's sort of like referring to Vishnu as Jesus Christ Almighty.

Like it or not, there really is a pretty big difference between referring to Jesus as Allah, or the other way. Actually, if a mosque took to referring to Allah as Jesus (it won't, but let's hypothesise here), they'd be called heretics by Muslims and deviant Muslim terrorists by everyone else.

To put it in perspective, why does this newspaper have to use the term 'Allah', anyway, knowing full well that it is a proper noun? What's wrong with Tuhan? What's wrong with God as a generality? You have to wonder what the point is. If it's to fight for the freedom of speech, there are other (less stupid) ways to do so, and I will back you on it.

That's just wrong

From National Geographic: Smallest Whale Shark Discovered -- On a Leash:

Early on March 7 a project leader from the international conservation organization WWF and others in the town of Donsol heard that a live whale shark was being offered for sale at a nearby beach. Expecting a stranded giant, the rescuers found instead a 15-inch (38-centimeter) shark leashed to a stake in the mud like a neglected puppy.

By the end of the day, after photos and measurements had been taken, the young whale shark was free again, released into deeper waters.

That's so wrong, keeping a whale shark on a string.

Earth Hour

FYI, this year, Earth Hour will take place on 28 March 2009 from 8.30 pm to 9.30 pm.

I missed it last year because I didn't even know it was on, so this year I'm taking it upon myself to find out when it is and informing those who want to stay informed.

I propose we have a party on 28 March 2009 with, I don't know, candles or something and a live performance (ahem, atuk) that doesn't need electricity. Let's celebrate Earth Hour instead of begrudge it.

Earth Hour KL Website: http://earthhour.org.my/

Customer Service Review: Red FM

Business: Radio Station
Location: 16th Floor, Bangunan AmAssurance, 1 Jalan Lumut, Kuala Lumpur
Website: http://www.red.fm

The Situation:

I'd won RM250 on the FourPlay contest on Red FM during Nisha's Late Night Love Songs. Since I wasn't told otherwise, I thought collection of the gift was as per usual practice, which is to go pick it up at the Red FM headquarters on Jalan Lumut during office hours (9am - 1pm, 2pm - 5pm).

I'd also previously won a sword letter opener worth (supposedly) RM120 or something on the Underworld 3 contest.

To collect my sword letter opener, I enlisted the help of my parents' driver because, obviously, I work full-time and my lunchtime coincides with theirs. I provided him with a photocopy of my IC and instructions as to where to go. What did he come back with? 2 tickets to go watch Underworld 3, with no sword letter opener in sight.

I actually gave up after that because I didn't really care that much about the letter opener (even though it could've been really cool).

Then I won RM250, and obviously I'm going to pick that up. I left for lunch slightly early, drove all the way to Jalan Lumut (which, incidently, is ridiculously hard to find due to a lot of one-way-ness and traffic), got to the Red FM marketing department and subsequently found out that apparently, somebody was supposed to have called me to inform me that the cash prize has not been delivered, and once delivered, I will be contacted to come and collect.

And obviously, I went:

So someone was supposed to call me?

Her: Yes, someone was supposed to call you to inform you that the prize will be delivered and then we will inform you to come collect.

But nobody called me. And you don't say anything on your website about it. It's really confusing.

Her: Oh, really?

(No, I just said that to confuse you and I came all the way here just for shits and giggles. Wtf do you think, really?) Yes. Really.

[Silence]

So, somebody will call to tell me when to pick up?

Her: Yes.

Somebody will call me, right? I don't have to call anyone?

Her: Yes.

At this point I put her out of her misery and told her I also wanted to collect a sword letter opener, and after she presented it to me, we had a nice conversation about how the Red FM website is absolute crap.

Plus points:

• They're giving me free stuff.
• They're giving me free cash.

Minus points:

• Their website is crap.
• Their website provided no useful information in regard to when I should collect my prize.

Verdict:

I'm inclined to say kudos to Red FM for giving away free stuff (to me), but minus points for their lack of organisation and a useful and user-friendly website which, I feel, is essential to any company that depends on exposure to do well.

Red FM, if you need a new website designed, let me know. I'll hook you up.

Red FM FourPlay

Attention: I've just won RM250 on Red.FM FourPlay from Nisha on Late Night Love Songs. So while I was getting emo with the lovers, I won some money! Sweet!

Also, I'm "you know what", girls. Hehe..