KUALA LUMPUR – During tomorrow’s cabinet meeting, Umno ministers are expected to raise the matter of the Home Ministry’s decision to withdraw its appeal against a high court ruling allowing Christians nationwide to use the word “Allah” for their religious education purposes.
This is according to Umno information chief Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, who said that the use of the word must be handled with care as it involves religious sensitivities and the right to religious practices.
“More in-depth scrutiny is needed to handle this matter fairly for all parties involved.
“A comprehensive solution must be discussed and agreed on, including from a legal and non-legal perspective,” Azalina, who is also minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reforms), said in a statement today.
She added that Umno will continue to defend Islam as the official religion of the federation while respecting the right to practise other religions, as outlined in the federal constitution.
Yesterday, it was reported that the Attorney-General’s Chambers, representing the Home Ministry, had notified the appellate court on April 18 that it does not wish to proceed with its appeal.
Lawyer Haniff Khatri Abdulla, who represented the Selangor, Kedah, and Federal Territories religious councils, claimed, however, that he had only been notified of the appeal’s withdrawal yesterday morning.
The appeal’s withdrawal has been met by protests from certain quarters, including Malay rights coalition Pembela and an association of shariah lawyers in the Federal Territories.
On March 10, 2021, Court of Appeal judge Datuk Nor Bee Ariffin, sitting as a high court judge, had allowed a judicial review application on the matter by a Sarawakian Christian, Jill Ireland Lawrence Bill.
The ruling rendered invalid a circular issued by the Home Ministry against the use of the word “Allah” by Christian publications in the country.
The three other words also allowed by the ruling are “Baitullah,” “Kaabah,” and “solat.”
Justice Nor Bee, in her ruling, held that the 1986 directive is filled with illegality and irrationality, adding that the four words could also be used by Christians for teaching purposes as they have been in use for over 400 years. – The Vibes, May 16, 2023
