Christians in Sabah and Sarawak can continue using 'Allah'

KOTA KINABALU: Christians in Sabah and Sarawak can continue using the term “Allah” in their worship, as the Federal Government will honour the 10-point solution on the issue made in 2011.

Stating this, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak also advised all groups not to politicise the issue “as they will be playing with fire that can eventually burn them”.

The Court of Appeal decision to uphold the Home Ministry’s ban on the use of “Allah” in the Catholic publication The Herald does not affect the Christians of Sabah and Sarawak, he said.

(Under the 10-point solution announced by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Idris Jala, Bibles in all languages can be imported into the country, including those in Bahasa Malaysia/Indonesia, and the Bibles can also be printed locally in Peninsula Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak.

“Bibles in the indigenous languages of Sabah and Sarawak, such as Iban, Kadazandusun and Lun Bawang, could be printed locally and imported.)

Najib said the people of Sabah and Sarawak should not feel threatened by this issue because whatever they had been practising so far can continue without any restriction.

The Prime Minister was addressing delegates at the 18th congress of Parti Bersatu Sabah, led by Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan, here yesterday.

“There is always a solution to any problem in ensuring peace and harmony through good relations between all races and religious beliefs.

“You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to find a formula for harmony.

“The solution is just rational thinking.

“Muslims should not hurt the feelings of non-Muslims and non-Muslims should not hurt the feelings of Muslims,” said Najib, stressing that Malaysians of all races and religious beliefs must help preserve the unity in the diversity of the people.

In Kuala Lumpur, Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi also assured the that the Court of Appeal’s ruling on The Herald applied only to the weekly and not be imposed on Bibles in Bahasa Malaysia.

“The Government does not intend to restrict the religious freedom of others but The Herald should also respect the court’s decision,” he said.