The word “filial” is an adjective meaning “of a son or daughter and filial duty/respect/affection”. “Filial” is often coupled with the phrase “filial piety”, a noun that is defined as “reverence for parents considered in Chinese ethics the prime virtue and the basis of all human rights relations”. Elder law which deals with the care for elders and their rights is premised to a certain extent on filial responsibility. This is not to say that all aspects of elder law are based on filial piety or responsibility. There could be moral, social and economic undertones to rationalize elder care and elder law.

The Titular Roman Catholic Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur moved for judicial review as they were dissatisfied with the Home Minister’s refusal to permit Herald to use the word of “Allah”. Under our constitution there are two ways in which a legislature – state or federal – may violate the provisions of the Federal Constitution. Was the judge in the case of Archbishop correct in describing what was being done as ‘collateral’? If she was not, then what she said was a mere matter of words.