MIRI – The Kuala Lumpur High Court’s decision to overturn Putrajaya’s directive banning non-Muslims from using the word “Allah” is a welcome development, said two Sarawak politicians.
Sarawak United Peoples’ Party information chief Adam Yii said the decision today reaffirms the right to freely practise one’s own religion.
He told The Vibes that it is a step forward for freedom of religion in the country.
“The ban on the use of the word ‘Allah’ by the federal government (imposed in 1986) was never imposed in Sarawak.
“In Sarawak, we are free to use the word ‘Allah’, to freely practise our faith.
“It was the federal government at the time that imposed the ban on non-Muslims using the word.”
State PKR vice-chairman Dr Teo Yu Keng said the ban should not have been imposed in the first place.
“This controversy should not have come about since the federal constitution guarantees freedom to all to practise their faith.
“The KL High Court decision should be welcomed by Putrajaya. We should move on and not drag any religious issues into government policies.”
Judge Datuk Nor Bee Ariffin today ruled in favour of a civil suit by Jill Ireland Lawrence Bill, a Sarawakian Melanau Christian woman.
She filed the suit against the federal government 13 years ago after she was stopped at Kuala Lumpur International Airport for bringing in books and audio materials containing the word “Allah”.
She sought a declaration that the government’s directive on December 5, 1986 to ban non-Muslims from using the word “Allah” is unconstitutional and invalid.
The court ruled that Jill Ireland is free to use the word “Allah” to practise her religion, and to use any publications containing the word for her education purposes. – The Vibes, March 10, 2021
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