KOTA KINABALU – An interfaith dialogue is highly inappropriate and should not be held right now as Putrajaya is appealing the high court’s decision on the use of the word “Allah” by non-Muslims.
The Council Of Churches Malaysia said the Home Ministry’s plan to hold an interfaith dialogue over the use of the word should be put on the back burner.
“We are, however, mindful that the Malaysian government had on March 15 filed a notice of appeal against the high court’s decision.
“With abundant caution, and as the matter is now with the Court of Appeal, we are of the view that it is highly inappropriate for the issue to be resolved via a dialogue initiated by the Home Ministry, who is one of the appellants,” council president archbishop Datuk Melter Jiki Tais said.
The Home Ministry had reportedly planned to initiate a dialogue between Christian and Muslim scholars to resolve the issue concerning the use of the word “Allah”.
“We reiterate that the Christian community in Malaysia, in particular Christians in Sabah and Sarawak, has always been willing to live in peace, harmony and mutual respect with communities of other religions,” said Tais.
On March 15, the federal government filed an appeal against the high court decision that Christians nationwide can use the word “Allah” and three other Arabic words in religious publications for educational purposes.
The other three words are “Baitullah”, “Kaabah”, and solat.
In her March 10 judgment, Court of Appeal judge Datuk Nor Bee Ariffin, sitting as high court judge, had allowed a judicial review application by a Sarawak native Christian, Jill Ireland Lawrence Bill.
In the application, Lawrence Bill had sought, among others, a declaration that it is her constitutional right to have access to Christian publications in the exercise of her rights to practise her religion and right to education, as provided under Article 11 of the federal constitution.
She also wanted the court to declare the Home Ministry’s 1986 circular to ban the word “Allah” in Christian publications as unlawful and unconstitutional.
Nor Bee, in her ruling, held that the directive by the Home Ministry in 1986 to not allow the use of the four words is filled with illegality and irrationality. – The Vibes, March 19, 2021
