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KUALA LUMPUR – The government’s stand regarding the use of the word “Allah” has not changed since 1986, said Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil.
In explaining the government’s move to withdraw its appeal against the landmark ruling that allowed Sarawakian non-Muslim, Jill Ireland, to use the term, Fahmi said it was important to note that the matter was an administrative issue.
“The case is not related to issues involving religion, and not the issue of using the word ‘Allah’, but rather an issue of administration or (specifically the) Customs (department),” Fahmi said when officiating the “Jom Membaca Bersama” (let’s read together) programme earlier this morning.
“Customs seized several (reading) materials that used the word Allah, but the instruction's basis had contradicted the cabinet’s decision. That is the dispute.”
“But as the prime minister said yesterday, we understand the contradictions (of the seizure and decision), and we want to fix it now.”
Fahmi said former Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had previously said that the government faced an uphill battle in bringing the matter to court as it was likely to lose in a legal dispute.
“That was the admission of the former prime minister,” Fahmi said.
He said this was why the current cabinet had decided to present holistic approaches and solutions to the Conference of Rulers soon.
The Lembah Pantai MP said at the same time, the government’s policy regarding the use of “Allah” has not changed since 1986.
“Until today, there have been no changes to this policy.”
According to Bernama yesterday, the cabinet obtained the consent of Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah to submit its proposal to improve the enforcement of policies relating to the use of the word Allah by non-Muslims to the Conference of Rulers.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, in a statement, said the government will always uphold the federal constitution, especially Article 3, relating to Islam being the religion of the federation, and that other religions may be practised in peace and harmony.
The issue was discussed at the cabinet meeting yesterday following the attorney-general’s decision to withdraw the appeal against the high court’s ruling on the case involving Ireland, a Christian, and her publication material containing the word Allah.
On May 15, the Home Ministry and the government were reported to have withdrawn their appeal against the decision of the Kuala Lumpur High Court, which ruled that Christians can use the word Allah and the three other Arabic words to publish their religious material for learning purposes. – The Vibes, May 18, 2023
