Home Ministry: Ultraman is not banned, only the Ultraman comic is banned

The Home Ministry today confirmed that 'The Ultraman Ultra Power' comic was banned because the character Ultraman King was referred to as "Allah". However, the ministry explained that the character itself has not been banned as the ban was only for the 'The Ultraman Ultra Power' comic. It added that the ban on the publication was done as the superhero’s likening to "Allah” could mislead children’s thoughts towards the actual characteristics of “Allah”. “The word Allah is holy for Muslims in Malaysia. The word Allah is sensitive and can provoke Muslims if abused by irresponsible parties. “If this is not curbed, it can be harmful to the public and can mislead the public. "It is feared it could damage the faith of Muslim children to equate "Allah" with Ultraman," the ministry said in a statement. The issue of the word ‘Allah’ created controversy on February 16, 2009, when the Roman Catholic Church led by Archbishop Murphy Pakiam filed a judicial review application naming the Home Ministry and the government as respondents, seeking a declaration that the ministry's decision to prohibit the use of the word Allah in The Herald is not valid. The weekly magazine, published in four languages, has been using the word "Allah" to refer to God in its Malay-language section. On December 31, 2009, the High Court declared the ministry’s decision in prohibiting 'The Herald' from using the word "Allah". On January 6, 2010, the Kuala Lumpur High Court granted a stay of an earlier order to allow the use of the word ‘Allah’ by The Herald, the Home Ministry and the consent of the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Malaysia in the betterment of the nation. On October 14, 2012, a panel of three Court of Appeal judges headed by Federal Court judge Datuk Seri Mohamed Apandi Ali allowed the appeal of the government to prohibit 'The Herald' from using the word "Allah". The court set aside the High Court's decision by allowing the use of the word "Allah". On November 11, 2013, the Catholic church filed an application to appeal to the Federal Court by submitting 26 questions on administrative law and the power of the court to allow the Minister to prohibit the use of the word theology (God). On March 5, 2014, the Federal Court postponed the hearing decision of the Catholic Church for permission to appeal against the decision of the Court of Appeal that the Herald will not use the word Allah. Bernama, on Thursday reported that the ministry issued the ban order on the comic published by Resign Publications because it was found to contain elements that may be prejudicial to public order. According to the report, the prohibition gazette was effective from Feb 18 following Section 7(1) of the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984. "It is an offence under subsection 2 of Section 8 of the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 for any person to print, import, produce, reproduce, publish, sell, distribute or possess the prohibited publication for any purpose." The statement said that those convicted of such an offence shall be liable to imprisonment not exceeding three years or a fine not exceeding RM20,000 or both.