'Allah' usage: It's status quo for Sabah and Sarawak Christians, says Ewon

KOTA KINABALU: Christians in Sabah and Sarawak do not have to worry about using the word "Allah" in their prayers and religious publications as they can continue practising their religion as usual, says Datuk Ewon Benedick.

The Upko president and Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister said this was made clear after a Cabinet meeting with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and other ministers two days ago.

"In the meeting, everyone was given the opportunity to voice their thoughts on this matter and after a lengthy discussion, the PM decided that as per status quo, Christians in Sabah and Sarawak can use the word ‘Allah’ in their prayers and publications.

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"So Christians in these two states do not have to worry because the Prime Minister has agreed to maintain the status quo," he said after a Kaamatan function in Penampang near here on Friday (May 19).

Ewon, who was also Penampang MP and Kadamaian assemblyman, said for publications, the words "for Christians only" must be stamped on all materials.

He said the issue, which resurfaced following the Federal Government's decision to drop its appeal against a related High Court ruling, had caused concern among Christians in Sabah and Sarawak.

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"We respect and acknowledge that Islam is the official religion in this country but the rights of other religions are also protected," said Ewon.

On Tuesday (May 17), Anwar said the Kuala Lumpur High Court’s ruling in the Jill Ireland case regarding the use of the word "Allah" by Christians was only applicable to Christians in Sarawak.

He had said the word would not be allowed to be used in other states and this had been explained by the Home Ministry.

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Sarawak Lawmaker and Ba’Kelalan assemblyman Baru Bian had said that the High Court judgment allowing non-Muslims to use the word "Allah" in their religious education applies throughout the whole of Malaysia and not just in Sarawak.

Baru said when then High Court judge Justice Nor Bee Ariffin ruled that the Home Ministry's 1986 administrative directive banning the use of certain words by non-Muslims was invalid, there was no distinction made between Sarawak and the other states in her judgment.