KUALA LUMPUR – While various groups have lauded the recent high court judgment allowing the word “Allah” to be used by non-Muslims, there are doubts and questions about whether the issue has been fully settled.
This is because state-level edicts on the word’s usage are not likely to be rescinded.
The mufti of Penang is determined to maintain the edict issued by the state’s fatwa committee on the exclusive use of the word “Allah” by Muslims despite the high court ruling on Wednesday that the word can be used by others as well.
Datuk Seri Wan Salim Wan Mohd Noor told The Vibes that the state religious body will keep to its injunction that the use of the word by people of other religions is considered an offence under shariah law.
The committee made the decision in May 2009 and it was gazetted in April 2010, following a ruling by the national fatwa body that “Allah” is a holy term that should be exclusively used by Muslims.
“I don’t know about the other states, but we in Penang stand by the fatwa decision, because it has been gazetted. Otherwise, we will be seen as contradicting the edict.
“Also, the high court’s decision is not final. It’s a long process, and can be reviewed,” he said.
Attempts to contact muftis from the other states have been unfruitful at the time of writing.
However, it is understood that the other states with similar edicts are mulling the likelihood of making a similar stand.
Meanwhile, the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism, and Taoism called on all parties to understand and respect the court ruling.
Its vice-president, Datuk R.S. Mohan Shan, said politicians in particular should avoid issuing any statements that can incite racial and religious disharmony.
He said the issue should not be politicised such that it incites others.
He also said the decision delivered by justice Datuk Nor Bee Ariffin yesterday was not made on a whim and would have been deliberated for months.
“Nor Bee is a learned judge who made a learned decision. I hope everyone will accept the decision. If certain people make an issue out of this, then I don’t know how we can ever live harmoniously,” he told The Vibes yesterday.
“For politicians, especially, it is my humble request that you please not politicise it. That’s just not the right thing to do.”
In its decision yesterday, the court ruled that the words “Allah”, “Baitullah”, “Kaabah” and “solat” are allowed to be used in religious publications for educational purposes.
This effectively renders invalid a 1986 circular issued by the Home Ministry against the word “Allah” being used by Christians in the country.
Later yesterday, Muafakat Nasional issued a statement expressing deep concern over the decision, and urged the government to launch an appeal.
Mohan said he had never seen anything wrong with the use of the previously suspended words, arguing that it does not disrupt public order and allows for more open discourse.
“I know there is still room for the government to appeal the high court’s decision and it is up to them. But, I feel it is unnecessary. The ruling is not going to harm anyone,” he said. – The Vibes, March 12, 2021
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