Kedah's decision to ban the use of the word "Allah" in non-Muslim holy books contradicts the 2011 cabinet decision allowing Bibles of all languages to be used in the country, former Malaysian Bar president Datuk Param Cumaraswamy said today.
The former United Nations special rapporteur on the independence of lawyers and judges claimed the action by Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir amounted to non-compliance of the cabinet's 10-point solution to addressing the Bahasa Malaysia/Indonesia Bible and other related issues.
"The action taken by the Kedah mentri besar to ban the use of the word 'Allah' in the state in non-Muslim holy books last week smacks at the 2011 cabinet decision.
"The decision was made following the impounding of the translated Bibles in Kuching and Port Klang two years earlier by the authorities for the use of the word 'Allah' in the translated versions," he told theSun today.
The cabinet's decision on April 2, 2011 was documented in a letter addressed to the Christian Federation of Malaysia chairman Bishop Ng Moon Hing and signed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak.
In the letter, Najib had said taking into account the polarity of views of the different religious groups and following discussions with Christian groups, the government had decided on the 10-point solution.
"I wish to confirm that this is a collective decision by the cabinet," he had said.
The two-page document listed, among others, that Bibles in all languages can be imported into the country and printed locally in both Peninsular and East Malaysia with no conditions attached, except that Bibles in Bahasa Malaysia or Bahasa Indonesia must have the words "Christian Publication" and the cross sign printed on the front covers.
Cumaraswamy said the government also issued a directive through the Home Ministry secretary-general to all government departments for proper implementation of the decision, "obviously meaning uniform implementation of the decision with sanctions of disciplinary action for non-compliance".
"In the light of such a decision and direction, it appears that Mukhriz should be called upon by the federal government to show cause for non-compliance of the federal decision."
"It was just not a premature move on the mentri besar's part while the issue is pending before the Court of Appeal, but he seems to have defied the cabinet decision on the matter, by imposing a blanket ban.
"Does that mean even those translated Bibles impounded and released in 2011 cannot be used in Kedah?" he asked, as the Bibles impounded then had been released free of charge.
- theSundaily
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