PUTRAJAYA: With state polls looming, politicians must be responsible in addressing the issue of the use of “Allah” in Christian publications to avoid tension and disharmony, says Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
“Politicians must be responsible. This is an emotive issue.
“While they want to rake in political mileage by talking about the matter, they must not ignore the facts surrounding the issue,” he said when met by reporters at the National Registration Department excellent service award yesterday.
Saifuddin, who is Pakatan Harapan secretary-general, was asked to comment on concerns the government’s decision to withdraw its appeal against the High Court decision would be used as campaign fodder during the upcoming state elections.
He also said the Cabinet would decide on ministries involved in preparing the proposal on the use of the word Allah to be presented to the Conference of Rulers.
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the Cabinet would present the government’s proposal to strengthen policies with regards to the use of the word Allah to the Conference of Rulers.
Anwar said the Yang di-Pertuan Agong had consented for the Cabinet to do so, in order to resolve the issue comprehensively.
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.
Saifuddin had earlier explained the move was due to a contradiction between a Home Ministry administrative order and a Cabinet decision in 1986.
He further said this was related to the confiscation of published materials at that time, and not a theological issue involving the use of the word.
He explained that the ministry had carefully examined the decision of the Kuala Lumpur High Court on March 10, 2021, and found there was a contradiction in the administrative instructions which caused the decision to favour Jill Ireland.
On March 10, 2021, Justice Nor Bee Ariffin, who is now a Court of Appeal judge, ruled that a 1986 Home Ministry directive to prohibit the use of the words Allah, “Baitullah”, “Kaabah” and “solat” by non-Muslims was illegal and unconstitutional.
This follows the court’s decision to allow a judicial review for Ireland, a Christian of Melanau descent, to uphold the constitutional right to practise her religion.
In 2014, the High Court ordered the Home Ministry to return the CDs to her but did not address the constitutional points as it was bound by a Federal Court ruling.
The order to return the CDs was upheld by the Court of Appeal the following year, but she proceeded with her challenge on the Home Ministry’s directive that resulted in the forfeiture.
In Ipoh, Anwar said there was no need to kick up a fuss over the issue involving the use of the word Allah as the policy would not change.
He said the policy whereby non-Muslims in the peninsula could not use the word would remain unchanged.
“The policy was decided by the Conference of Rulers and muftis many years ago.
“It has also remained since Barisan Nasional’s time (as the Federal Government) to Perikatan Nasional and until now,” he said.
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