We are supposed to be 1Malaysia but now have two sets of laws governing the same religion for East and West Malaysia, says an opposition MP.
PETALING JAYA: DAP national publicity secretary Tony Pua today claimed that the cabinet on Wednesday has decided that the term ‘Allah’ can be used by Christians in Sabah and Sarawak in their worship, including in the Malay-language bible al-Kitab.
In a press statement, the Petaling Jaya Utara MP said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Joseph Kurup had revealed the cabinet’s stance on the issue.
Attempts by FMT to confirm the cabinet’s stand did not bear fruit.
Pua said Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s administration had created the most untenable situation in the country where “we are supposed to be 1Malaysia but now have two sets of laws governing the same religion for East and West Malaysia.”
“The prime minister who is supposed to be the champion of moderation has made a complete mockery of Article 3 of the Federal Constitution which enshrines the freedom of religion,” Pua added.
On Monday, the Court of Appeal allowed an appeal from the government to not allow Christian publication The Herald from using the word ‘Allah’.
The court found that there was no infringement of constitutional rights as claimed by the respondents (Herald publishers) and set aside an order of the High Court which had earlier allowed the Herald to use the word ‘Allah’.
Pua said the cabinet’s decision, as revealed by Kurup, meant that Christians in Sabah and Sarawak were allowed to use ‘Allah’ but those in West Malaysia were not, even if their ‘native tongue’ is Bahasa Malayu.
“But what happens when East Malaysians come over the West Malaysia for work or travel, can they pray to “Allah?”
“If the government allows to use ‘Allah’ in East Malaysia it shows an endorsement that the judgment of the Court of Appeal is flawed and misguided,” he added.
Pua said allowing the use of the word ‘Allah’ in Sabah and Sarawak shows that the government was in fact agreeing that ‘Allah’ was an integral part of the Christian community.
He said the leeway given to East Malaysians will only split the country and create widespread confusion.
He said to avoid all the hassle, the Attorney-General (AG) should file for a revision of the Court of Appeal judgment.
PETALING JAYA: DAP national publicity secretary Tony Pua today claimed that the cabinet on Wednesday has decided that the term ‘Allah’ can be used by Christians in Sabah and Sarawak in their worship, including in the Malay-language bible al-Kitab.In a press statement, the Petaling Jaya Utara MP said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Joseph Kurup had revealed the cabinet’s stance on the issue.
Attempts by FMT to confirm the cabinet’s stand did not bear fruit.
Pua said Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s administration had created the most untenable situation in the country where “we are supposed to be 1Malaysia but now have two sets of laws governing the same religion for East and West Malaysia.”
“The prime minister who is supposed to be the champion of moderation has made a complete mockery of Article 3 of the Federal Constitution which enshrines the freedom of religion,” Pua added.
On Monday, the Court of Appeal allowed an appeal from the government to not allow Christian publication The Herald from using the word ‘Allah’.
The court found that there was no infringement of constitutional rights as claimed by the respondents (Herald publishers) and set aside an order of the High Court which had earlier allowed the Herald to use the word ‘Allah’.
Pua said the cabinet’s decision, as revealed by Kurup, meant that Christians in Sabah and Sarawak were allowed to use ‘Allah’ but those in West Malaysia were not, even if their ‘native tongue’ is Bahasa Malayu.
“But what happens when East Malaysians come over the West Malaysia for work or travel, can they pray to “Allah?”
“If the government allows to use ‘Allah’ in East Malaysia it shows an endorsement that the judgment of the Court of Appeal is flawed and misguided,” he added.
Pua said allowing the use of the word ‘Allah’ in Sabah and Sarawak shows that the government was in fact agreeing that ‘Allah’ was an integral part of the Christian community.
He said the leeway given to East Malaysians will only split the country and create widespread confusion.
He said to avoid all the hassle, the Attorney-General (AG) should file for a revision of the Court of Appeal judgment.
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