Bersatu, too, urges govt to appeal ‘Allah’ ruling

KUALA LUMPUR – Bersatu is the latest political party to urge the government to appeal against the high court’s decision yesterday on the use of “Allah” and three other Arabic words for the purpose of religious education.

Information chief Wan Saiful Wan Jan said the use of the word “Allah” by non-Muslims in the country touches on Muslim sensitivities.

“I have heard and read the comments following the court’s decision on the use of the word ‘Allah’. This is not a new issue, but a long-standing one,” he said in a Facebook post today.

He said legislation needs to consider the current environment and culture. 

“On matters that touch on the sensitivities of Muslims, there is a need for them to be managed carefully and thoroughly.”

He said he has reached out to his party colleagues in the cabinet to air his views on the matter and express hope for an amicable solution.

Yesterday’s decision, he said, proves that Perikatan Nasional will not interfere in the affairs of the judiciary – a core principle championed by the ruling coalition.

The Muafakat Nasional alliance between Umno and PAS has called on Putrajaya to appeal the ruling, and expressed concern over the decision to allow the words “Allah”, “Baitullah”, “solat” and “Kaabah” to be used by non-Muslims in their publications. 

High court judge Datuk Nor Bee Ariffin, reading her judgment, said the Home Ministry’s directive on December 5, 1986 prohibiting the use of the said words by non-Muslims is illegal and unconstitutional. 

She also ruled that the directive was wrongly issued, as it went beyond the aim of the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984. – The Vibes, March 11, 2021