Mais in disagreement with govt over withdrawal of appeal

PETALING JAYA: The Selangor Islamic Religious Council (Mais) says it does not agree with the Federal Government’s withdrawal of the appeal against the High Court decision allowing the word “Allah” to be used by non-Muslims in publications for educational purposes.

Its chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof said it not only concerned administrative and security issues but also involved the akidah (creed) of Muslims.

“Prior to this, in the appeal case, Mais and two other state Islamic authorities had been allowed by the appeals court to appear in the case as amicus curae (friend of the court).

“However, Mais is disappointed and regrets the unilateral action by the government to withdraw the appeal without any discussion with Mais or any other parties that have an interest in the case,” he said in a statement.

He said Mais also stressed that the use of the word Allah by non-Muslims in Selangor was a criminal offence under the Selangor Non-Islamic Religions (Control of Propagation Amongst Muslims) Enactment 1988.

Abdul Aziz said this was in line with the fatwa which was gazetted in Selangor on Feb 18, 2010, over the matter.

He said even the Malay language Bible was not allowed to use the word Allah.

“His Royal Highness is of the opinion that the Allah word can only be used to refer to the Almighty God and cannot be used other than the intended meaning.

“His Royal Highness, however, has no objection if the word ‘Tuhan’ be translated to ‘God’ in any publication related to Christianity,” he added.

Abdul Aziz said that for the sake of public interest, the appeal process must continue to go through the highest court in the country to decide the issue decisively.

He called on all parties, including politicians, to respect the Sultan of Selangor as the state religious head and to refer to the enactment before making any policy or decision.

On May 15, the government withdrew its appeal against the High Court decision, which allowed the word Allah, among others, to be used by non-Muslims in publications for educational purposes.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the move was due to a contradiction between a Home Ministry administrative order and a Cabinet decision in 1986.

Separately, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani said Bukit Aman would leave it to the Federal Government to handle the issue over the use of the word “Allah”.

“I believe there will be a briefing for the Conference of Rulers on this matter,” he told reporters after a high-tea event with the media yesterday.