Articles 3(1) and 11(4) still prevails

Federal Court decided against The Herald Weekly highly controversial and politicised appeal to allow them to use ‘kalimah Allah’ in the publication.

Herald Weekly fails to get leave to appeal “Allah” ban

BY HIDIR REDUAN SHARANPAL SINGH RANDHAWARAHMAT KHAIRULRIJAL – 23 JUNE 2014 @ 10:14 AM

PUTRAJAYA: The Herald Weekly today failed to get leave from the Federal Court to challenge the Home Ministry’s ban on its use of the word “Allah” in its Bahasa Malaysia edition.

A seven-man panel led by Chief Justice Ariffin Zakaria delivered a majority 4-3 judgment on the matter, here, today.

Also on the panel are Court of Appeal president Tan Sri Md Raus Sharif, Chief Judge of Malaya Tan Sri Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudin, Federal Court judge Tan Sri Suriyadi Halim Omar, Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Tan Sri Richard Malanjum and Federal Court judges Datuk Jefrrey Tan Kok Wha and Datuk Zainun Ali.

Earlier, Perkasa vice-president Syed Osman Mansor said the non-governmental organisation will not go against any decision made by the apex court.

“Whatever the decision is, we will abide to it. We will not take it to the streets if the ruling is to allow an appeal.

“Of course, we would be disappointed if the appeal is allowed but as I said we will abide to the decision,” he said.

Perkasa president Datuk Ibrahim Ali said that disappointed or not the people will have to accept the decision.

“We had on various occasions discussed this matter in our Supreme Council meetings and there will not be any sort of demonstration.

Some 500 Perkasa members, men, women and children, clad in black T-Shirt written “Allah just for Muslim” had gathered at the Palace of Justice as early as 5.30am to show support.

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The four versus three majority at the Federal Court decision upheld that the definitive provision in the Federal Constitution 3(1) where it states ‘Islam is the religion of the Federation of Malaysia’ and 11(4) prohibiton to profess the faith of Non Islamic religion to Muslims, still stand.

This should end the controversy, once and for all.

Any interpretations about using “Allah” to replace “God” in Christian publications should fall back to this ruling. -bigdogdotcom