Muafakat Nasional wants ruling on Islamic words referred to Court of Appeal

KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama): -- The Muafakat Nasional consultative committee meeting held on Wednesday (March 10) night has urged that the High Court’s ruling on the use of the Islamic words be referred to the Court of Appeal.

Muafakat in a statement said the coalition viewed the High Court's decision, in allowing non-Muslims to use the words in their publications, seriously.

"Today's meeting also urges the Federal Government to take the initiative to expedite the implementation of a more harmonised legal system within the Federal Constitution framework," the statement said.

The meeting also agreed to further strengthen Muafakat, it said.

The media statement was distributed by Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan (pic), who is also Muafakat secretary-general, through Whatsapp and via Twitter.

The High Court on Wednesday ruled that Christians nationwide can use the word "Allah” and three other Arabic words in their religious publications for educational purposes.

The three other words are Baitullah, Kaabah and solat.

This follows Court of Appeal Judge Datuk Nor Bee Ariffin, sitting as High Court judge, allowing a judicial review application by a Sarawak native Christian, Jill Ireland Lawrence Bill.

Earlier, the Muafakat meeting between Umno and PAS, held for about three hours at Menara Dato' Onn, Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC), here, among others, discussed the coalition's empowerment agenda.

The meeting, co-chaired by Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan and his PAS counterpart Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, was attended by 12 top leaders from both parties.- Bernama