Prime Minister Najib Razak has earned the wrath
of Malay supremacist group Perkasa for not coming down hard on
Christians continuing to use the word 'Allah' in their practice.
This despite the PM finally breaking his silence on the ongoing row by affirming that the cabinet's 10-point solution was still subject to state laws that banned the use of the word.
Although
the cabinet had discussed the matter earlier, Najib had not made any
statement until last night after meeting with the Umno supreme council.
Responding in a statement today, Perkasa Islamic affairs bureau chief ustaz Shamsuddin Moner slammed Najib and the Umno supreme council for not showing "firmness and transparency" in defending the sanctity of 'Allah' from being allegedly "insulted and "humiliated and mocked" by the Catholic church.
"As Umno president ... he and the Umno supreme council should by right insist that all churches and Catholic priests in the country to recognise and respect the decision of the Court of Appeal on Oct 14, 2013...
"There was not a single criticism by the Umno supreme council that convened last night against those who dispute the Appeal Court's ruling," he said.
The Appeal Court's ruling last October overturned the 2010 High Court decision that the Home Ministry ban on The Herald's use of the word was unconstitutional.
'Blanket ban implied'
Shamsuddin, however, maintained that the latest ruling implied a blanket ban on the use of the word, which Borneo Christians have been using for over a century in their Malay and Iban bibles.
He claimed that the 10-point solution did not concern the use of the word 'Allah' in the bibles, but was instead directed at the use of the Malay language in bibles.
"It does not allow for the use of the word 'Allah' in bibles, but is general in nature on allowing bibles to be published in the Malay language," he said.
Shamsuddin urged Najib to consult with the National Fatwa Council and international Islamic scholars on the matter.
"We want this issue to be resolved by the Conference of Rulers... the Conference of Rulers can block or prevent any ritual such as the practice demanded by (editor of Catholic weekly, The Herald) Lawrence Andrew (left) that the word 'Allah' be used in all Catholic rituals in Selangor churches," he said.
Najib yesterday said that the word 'Allah' cannot be used by non-Muslims in states where there is such prohibitions under law, but Sabah and Sarawak - which do not have such laws - may continue to use the word.
However, Shamsuddin blasted Najib for pandering to Sabahans and Sarawakians.
"The prime minister does not need to refer to (Minister in the Prime Minister's Department) Idris Jala simply to take care of the feelings and politics in Sabah and Sarawak," he said.
Idris had been the lead negotiator on behalf of the government when the 10-point solution was first drafted.
This despite the PM finally breaking his silence on the ongoing row by affirming that the cabinet's 10-point solution was still subject to state laws that banned the use of the word.
Although
the cabinet had discussed the matter earlier, Najib had not made any
statement until last night after meeting with the Umno supreme council.Responding in a statement today, Perkasa Islamic affairs bureau chief ustaz Shamsuddin Moner slammed Najib and the Umno supreme council for not showing "firmness and transparency" in defending the sanctity of 'Allah' from being allegedly "insulted and "humiliated and mocked" by the Catholic church.
"As Umno president ... he and the Umno supreme council should by right insist that all churches and Catholic priests in the country to recognise and respect the decision of the Court of Appeal on Oct 14, 2013...
"There was not a single criticism by the Umno supreme council that convened last night against those who dispute the Appeal Court's ruling," he said.
The Appeal Court's ruling last October overturned the 2010 High Court decision that the Home Ministry ban on The Herald's use of the word was unconstitutional.
'Blanket ban implied'
Shamsuddin, however, maintained that the latest ruling implied a blanket ban on the use of the word, which Borneo Christians have been using for over a century in their Malay and Iban bibles.
He claimed that the 10-point solution did not concern the use of the word 'Allah' in the bibles, but was instead directed at the use of the Malay language in bibles.
"It does not allow for the use of the word 'Allah' in bibles, but is general in nature on allowing bibles to be published in the Malay language," he said.
Shamsuddin urged Najib to consult with the National Fatwa Council and international Islamic scholars on the matter."We want this issue to be resolved by the Conference of Rulers... the Conference of Rulers can block or prevent any ritual such as the practice demanded by (editor of Catholic weekly, The Herald) Lawrence Andrew (left) that the word 'Allah' be used in all Catholic rituals in Selangor churches," he said.
Najib yesterday said that the word 'Allah' cannot be used by non-Muslims in states where there is such prohibitions under law, but Sabah and Sarawak - which do not have such laws - may continue to use the word.
However, Shamsuddin blasted Najib for pandering to Sabahans and Sarawakians.
"The prime minister does not need to refer to (Minister in the Prime Minister's Department) Idris Jala simply to take care of the feelings and politics in Sabah and Sarawak," he said.
Idris had been the lead negotiator on behalf of the government when the 10-point solution was first drafted.
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