PAS wants amendments to Rukunegara to include ‘Allah’

By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal- The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, March 22 — PAS wants the Rukunegara to be amended, and to include the use of “Allah” instead of “God” following debates over the last few months over “Allah” being used by non-Muslims.

PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang told reporters outside Parliament that the government should view the debates on the “Allah” issue in a positive light and make appropriate changes to the Rukunegara to refer to “God” as “Allah”, as Christians and non-Muslims also use the word.

“What is wrong with it, it is an achievement in unity following the ‘Allah’ issue. We should not only change the Rukunegara, we should make it more proactive, and at the same time work towards unity,” said Hadi.

He affirmed that whatever confusion which may be caused by the usage of the word may be resolved by religious scholars.

“Christians and other religions have realised the glory of the name ‘Allah’, Lord, God and other words do not have the same meaning.”

“The government needs to accept things in a positive light in handling the issue,” he said.

Despite questions from reporters stating that Christians’ understanding of Allah differ from Islam’s meaning of a singular God, he asserted that confusion would not occur if time is taken to explain and understand.

“We as Muslims can eat the meat prepared by Christians as well as Jews. This is because they use the name ‘Allah’ when slaughtering meat.”

“It is our responsibility to explain, not to attack.”

He added that Muslims will not be confused if Christians were allowed to use “Allah”, again dispelling claims that the faith of Muslims would be in jeopardy if “Allah” were to be inclusive to all.

“Who is confused? True Muslims won’t be confused, the ignorance of Muslims is our own doing,” he said.

The usage of “Allah” among non-Muslims took centre stage at the end of last year, ever since The High Court ruled that the Catholic church could use the word “Allah” in their weekly publications.

Chaos ensued after the ruling, with churches, a mosque and a Sikh temple vandalised.