Govt dropped appeal in 'Allah' use case as it was already policy, says Anwar

REMBAU: The government dropped its appeal against the High Court decision, which allowed the word "Allah" to be used by non-Muslims in publications for educational purposes in Sarawak as it already being practised, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

The Prime Minister said filing an appeal over the matter – which was already a policy – was a futile attempt.

"If one insists on going to court very well knowing that there is no case, it only means that he is not wise.

"The government had already agreed in 1986 and the Malay Rulers had given their consent allowing the use of 'Allah' by non-Muslims in Sabah and Sarawak under certain conditions.

"It was also decided that only non-Muslims in the peninsula were prohibited from using 'Allah'.

"So, if we, the government, know of this policy, how are we to appeal as the case before the court is in Sarawak?" he said in his speech during a visit to SMKA Dato' Haji Abu Hassan Haji Sail (Semadah) in Pedas near here.

Anwar said the government had to work within the confines of the 1986 ruling.

"But today, we are still grappling with the issue when there is none," he said.

Anwar said he had also informed the Yang di-Pertuan Agong that the Cabinet had taken note of the 1986 ruling but intended to propose some minor changes to plug loopholes and prevent future court tussles.

"The King has given his consent and the matter will be presented to the Malay Rulers after this," he said, adding that there would be no change in the 1986 ruling.

However, Anwar said the government would adhere to any amendments the Malay Rulers wish to make.

"If the Malay Rulers decide that non-Muslims are not allowed to use 'Allah', the government will obey the instruction.

"But as of today, the 1986 policy states that it is allowed in Sabah and Sarawak," he added.

He said despite the policy, the government's critics were bent on spreading politics of hatred by using religion.

Anwar also said the decision not to pursue the case was not his.

He also questioned why previous government administrations did not do anything about the issue.

"But today, they are whacking us without basis," he said.

His government, he said, was committed to safeguarding and strengthening the position of Islam and this was evident from the additional RM150mil allocated to repair and upgrade tahfiz and pondok schools in Budget 2023 announced in March, among others.

"Some people accuse us of belittling Islam but the allocation was even higher than the previous year's," he said.

He also urged his detractors to stop their defamatory tactics.

"You are free to share your thoughts but please do not slander, " he said.

The government had on April 18 filed a notice to withdraw its appeal against the High Court decision, which allowed the word "Allah", amongst others, to be used by non-Muslims in publications for educational purposes.

On March 10, 2021, the High Court had ruled in favour Jill Ireland Lawrence Bill, a Sarawakian Christian from the Melanau tribe, by granting three court orders she had sought.

This included a declaration that the government directive issued by the Home Ministry's publication control's division via a circular dated Dec 5, 1986, was "unlawful and unconstitutional."

Two days later, the Malaysian government and the Home Minister filed an appeal against the High Court's decision.

In his speech earlier, Anwar said the Federal Government will allocate another RM1.2mil for upgrading and repair works at Semadah.

Prior to this, RM3mil had been allocated to repair a large section of a boys' dormitory damaged in a blaze last July.

"This is a government committed to helping such religious schools and producing more scholars but we are being accused of compromising the position of Islam.

"The headmaster in his speech didn't even ask for funds to upgrade the surau but I still gave an allocation for this," he added.