KOTA KINABALU – Sarawak voters have the power to push for the federal government to withdraw its appeal filed during Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s administration against the high court ruling on the use of the word “Allah” and three other Arabic words.
Sabah’s Upko president Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau said Sarawak voters can tell the candidates running in the state election that they want closure on the matter.
He calls all political parties in East Malaysia to unite and urge Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob to instruct the Attorney-General’s Chambers to withdraw its appeal on the “Allah” issue.
“By withdrawing the appeal, Ismail Sabri can make Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) stand proud in the coming state election, and as his government needs Sarawak and Sabah, he can persuade Malayan hardliners to find civil and reasonable ways to address the Malayan Malay-Muslims’ cultural shock
“The prime minister should walk the talk on his Keluarga Malaysia concept. Show commitment to the Malaysia Agreement 1963 by ordering the Attorney-General’s Chambers to withdraw its appeal on the ‘Allah’ issue,” he said in a statement today.
Tangau, who is Tuaran MP, said Ismail Sabri now has the opportunity to right the wrong left uncorrected for 35 years by four prime ministers – Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (twice), Tun Abdullah Badawi, Datuk Seri Najib Razak and Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
He said 35 years ago, Dr Mahathir had issued a ban on the use of the word “Allah” and snatched away the right of Christians and other non-Muslims in Borneo to pray to Allah, succumbing to the ignorance and arrogance of some Malayans.
Thirty-five years on, the high court delivered in March a ruling which will make Malaysia stronger by enabling Sabahan, Sarawakian and Orang Asli Christians to pray freely as their Dayak brothers and sisters across the border in Kalimantan do.
“It was a victory for not only Malaysia, but also Bahasa Malaysia as the national language and all its speakers, and respect for Bahasa Iban and Bahasa Bidayuh, two languages of heritage in the land of Borneo.
“Sadly, the bigots in the Muhyiddin government insisted to prolong the pain felt by Borneo Christians and shared by their non-Christian families and friends including the Muslims,” he said.
He recalled that, on March 16, a total of 57 parliamentarians, senators and assemblypersons from Sabah and Sarawak came together to make this call which he initiated.
The representatives came from Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu, Parti Rakyat Sarawak, Progressive Democratic Party, Sarawak United Peoples’ Party and Bersatu on the state government’s side and also from Upko, PKR, DAP, Warisan and Parti Sarawak Bersatu on the opposition’s side.
“I plead to all the faithful in Malaysia to pray for wisdom, compassion and courage in Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri and all his ministers to summon their inner strength to withdraw the AGC’s appeal on the Allah issue.
“Let’s stop the Bornean Christians’ emotional bleeding and heal Malaysia’s wounds. Insha Allah, may all be legally free to pray to Allah on December 18, if not before,” he added. – The Vibes, December 5, 2021
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