Shafie Apdal inciting religious sensitivities, says SUPP

PETALING JAYA: Parti Warisan Sabah president Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal (pix) should not play the religion card in suggesting that the non-Muslims in Sabah and Sarawak are not allowed to use the world "Allah", says Dr Sim Kui Hian. 

"Shafie is clearly playing up religion-based sentiments or totally ignorant of the laws when he wrongly called on the Federal Government to allow non-Muslims in Sabah and Sarawak to use the word 'Allah'," said the Sarawak United Peoples Party (SUPP) president in a statement on Monday. 

He said in accordance to the 10-point solution agreed on by the Federal Government in April 2011, the people of Sabah and Sarawak regardless of religion, have been free to use the "Allah" word without restrictions under the state or Federal law. 

He added that safeguards to guarantee for religious freedom in the Federation were put in place in paragraph 15 of the Inter-Governmental Committee Report 1962 and Article 3(1) of the Federal Constitution whereby "Islam is the religion of the Federation, but other religions may be practised in peace and harmony in any part of the Federation".  

"This includes the freedom to non-Muslims in Sabah and Sarawak to use 'Allah' in their Bible or kitab as they been doing so for hundreds of years even before the formation of Malaysia," Dr Sim said. 

"Shafie Apdal should not incite hatred and fan religious conflicts by falsely implying that people in Sabah and Sarawak are not allowed to use the word 'Allah' when there are no such restrictions," he added.