BBC Learning English
Words in the News
11th January 2010
More church attacks in Malaysia
Another Christian church has been attacked in Malaysia, the ninth such incident since Friday.
Nobody has been hurt, but the issue has exposed deep religious and ethnic problem. Our
Southeast Asia correspondent, Rachel Harvey reports:
The latest attack, on an Evangelical Christian church, caused limited physical damage - just a
burned door and a charred entranceway. But the political implications may be more serious.
Tensions have flared after Malaysia's High Court ruled that a Roman Catholic newspaper,
the Herald, was permitted to use the word 'Allah' to describe God in its Malay language
editions. Muslim groups argue that Christians using a word so closely associated with Islam
could be a ploy to win converts.
Christians make up around 9% of the population in the majority Muslim state. Most non-
Muslims are ethnically Indian or Chinese. The row over the use of the word 'Allah' has
exposed deep resentments over the treatment of minorities and freedom of religion in
Malaysia.
A government minister told foreign diplomats on Monday, the church attacks were the work
of extremists. "These were not just attacks on houses of worship" he said, 'hese were attacks
on the values and freedoms all Malaysians share.'Under the slogan 'One Malaysia', the
government has made racial harmony a central policy. Its commitment to that policy is now
being severely tested.
Rachel Harvey, BBC News, Bangkok
Words in the News © British Broadcasting Corporation 2010
Page 1 of 2
bbclearningenglish.com
Vocabulary and definitions
charred burnt and black
the political implications the effect these events will have on the country's politics
and government
Tensions have flared feelings of anger between different groups of people have
increased or got worse
permitted allowed or given permission to do something
closely associated with very strongly connected with
a ploy to win converts a plan to convince people to change their religion or
beliefs
majority Muslim state a country where most of the people are Muslim
has exposed deep resentments has made the long standing anger obvious for all to see
extremists people who have beliefs that most other people think are
unacceptable
racial harmony when people from different ethnic groups are able to live
peacefully together
More on this story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/8451495.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/8447450.stm
Read and listen to the story and the vocabulary online:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2010/01/100111_witn_malaysia_page.shtml
Words in the News © British Broadcasting Corporation 2010
Page 2 of 2
bbclearningenglish.com
BBC Learning English
Words in the News
11th January 2010
More church attacks in Malaysia
Another Christian church has been attacked in Malaysia, the ninth such incident since Friday.
Nobody has been hurt, but the issue has exposed deep religious and ethnic problem. Our
Southeast Asia correspondent, Rachel Harvey reports:
The latest attack, on an Evangelical Christian church, caused limited physical damage - just a
burned door and a charred entranceway. But the political implications may be more serious.
Tensions have flared after Malaysia's High Court ruled that a Roman Catholic newspaper,
the Herald, was permitted to use the word 'Allah' to describe God in its Malay language
editions. Muslim groups argue that Christians using a word so closely associated with Islam
could be a ploy to win converts.
Christians make up around 9% of the population in the majority Muslim state. Most non-
Muslims are ethnically Indian or Chinese. The row over the use of the word 'Allah' has
exposed deep resentments over the treatment of minorities and freedom of religion in
Malaysia.
A government minister told foreign diplomats on Monday, the church attacks were the work
of extremists. "These were not just attacks on houses of worship" he said, 'hese were attacks
on the values and freedoms all Malaysians share.'Under the slogan 'One Malaysia', the
government has made racial harmony a central policy. Its commitment to that policy is now
being severely tested.
Rachel Harvey, BBC News, Bangkok
Words in the News © British Broadcasting Corporation 2010
Page 1 of 2
bbclearningenglish.com
Vocabulary and definitions
charred burnt and black
the political implications the effect these events will have on the country's politics
and government
Tensions have flared feelings of anger between different groups of people have
increased or got worse
permitted allowed or given permission to do something
closely associated with very strongly connected with
a ploy to win converts a plan to convince people to change their religion or
beliefs
majority Muslim state a country where most of the people are Muslim
has exposed deep resentments has made the long standing anger obvious for all to see
extremists people who have beliefs that most other people think are
unacceptable
racial harmony when people from different ethnic groups are able to live
peacefully together
More on this story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/8451495.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/8447450.stm
Read and listen to the story and the vocabulary online:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2010/01/100111_witn_malaysia_page.shtml
Words in the News © British Broadcasting Corporation 2010
Page 2 of 2
bbclearningenglish.com