KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim refutes claims made by an Opposition lawmaker that he misled the Dewan Rakyat on the use of the word “Allah” issue.
Anwar (PH-Tambun) said the Cabinet’s decision to withdraw the appeal on the issue was referred to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong in a telephone call witnessed by its members on Feb 7.
“If you read the statement, it is not confusing; the matter was referred to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong before Cabinet decided on the issue,” he told the Dewan Rakyat.
Earlier, Datuk Dr Zulkafperi Hanapi (PN-Tanjong Karang) had filed a motion to refer Anwar to the Rights and Privileges Committee of the Dewan Rakyat for misleading the House regarding the issue around the use of the word “Allah” on May 23.
Dr. Zulkafperi said he had filed the motion against the Prime Minister on June 8.
The Tanjong Karang MP claimed that a statement by the Sultan of Selangor on June 7 confirmed that the government did not refer the matter to the Conference of Rulers before withdrawing the appeal by the Home Ministry over the use of the word “Allah”.
To this, Anwar said that his discussion with Selangor Ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah was about matters involving the previous ruling by the Conference of Rulers and not the case of Jill Ireland.
“What the Sultan of Selangor had mentioned was Cabinet’s decision to restrict the use of the word 'Allah' in Peninsular Malaysia, which was allowed, and the provided relaxations for Sabah and Sarawak which I have explained,” said Anwar.
“I also explained there are amendments to be made and the King advised the matter should be brought to the National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs (MKI) first and later he would submit it to the Conference of Rulers,” he added.
