'Allah' ruling: Sabah, Sarawak lawmakers urge Putrajaya to withdraw appeal

 

Lawmakers from both sides of the political divide in Sabah and Sarawak today urged Putrajaya to withdraw its appeal against a High Court's ruling which allowed the use of the word "Allah" by non-Muslims in Malaysia. 

The move, according to them, will not only end the 35-year-old polemic and the pain felt by the Sabahans, Sarawakians and the Orang Asli, but it will be a positive legacy for the prime minister.

Plantations and commodities deputy minister and Puncak Borneo MP Willie Mongin is among the signatories despite being a member of the ruling government.

The statement was also joinly signed by lawmakers from Sarawak ruling parties who are part of the Perikatan Nasional government.

They are mainly from Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu, Sarawak United Peoples' Party (SUPP) and Sarawak People’s Party (PRS). 

"It is a blessing that all Malaysians can pray to Allah in mosques, churches and gurdwaras," the 54 parliamentarians and state assemblypersons from nine parties, as well as independent lawmakers, said in a statement.

They also called all political parties not to exploit the court verdict for their own "narrow political mileage".

"Let this be a closure for all and a step forward in national reconciliation so that we meet Allah’s plan that makes us different for us to know and love each other," they said.

On March 10, the High Court in Kuala Lumpur struck down a 1986 directive forbidding non-Muslims from using the word "Allah", in a legal suit brought by Melanau Christian Jill Ireland.

In the long-running saga, Ireland had initially instituted an action for the return of Malay-language Christian CDs and religious books seized by Customs officers at the Kuala Lumpur Low-Cost Terminal (LCCT) in Sepang in 2008.

However, following a court order to have the items returned to the clerk in 2015, Ireland's legal battle became one of seeking a court declaration over the right to use the word "Allah".

Below is today's full statement from the MPs:

"The federal government and the people of Malaysia should accept and not appeal against the High Court’s ruling declaring the Allah ban as unconstitutional.

"We the undersigned members of Parliament, of both Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara, and state assemblypersons from Sabah and Sarawak call upon all Malaysians to accept and the federal government to withdraw its appeal against the High Court’s ruling on March 10, 2021, that declares the Allah ban since 1986 is unconstitutional. It is a blessing that all Malaysians can pray to Allah in mosques, churches and gurdwaras.

"Our full position is as below:

"Christians who use “Allah” and other common religious words shared with Muslims are predominantly Borneans and Orang Asli, who speak Bahasa Malaysia as their second or first language, just like Christian Bataks, Dayaks, Ambonese, Timorese in Indonesia who speak Bahasa Indonesia as their second or first language. In Sarawak, Bahasa Iban uses “Allah Taala”, Bahasa Bidayuh uses “Tuhan Alla” while the Lun Bawangs, Lun Dayehs and Kelabits use the term “Tuhan Allah” for God.

"In Sabah and Sarawak, the popularity of Bahasa Malaysia amongst Christians is the outcome of the National Language Act 1967, the National Language Policy and the National Education Policy which reversed the decline of Bahasa Melayu during the colonial years.

"Muslims in Sabah and Sarawak are supportive of and never feel threatened by their Christian siblings, cousins, and friends praying to Allah, the one God in all Abrahamic faiths. Borneans genuinely believe that humans are made differently to know and love each other, not to disparage and discriminate against each other, and that presence of diverse religious communities is Allah’s will for He who is almighty could have made all humans in one faith.

"Muslims and Christians praying to Allah in mosques and churches will not cause apostasy of Muslims. The best evidence - Muslims constitute near or more 90 percent of the population in the Arab countries and Indonesia, despite Muslims and Christians share “Allah” and other religious terms for respectively 1,442 years and 476 years.

"The 1986 federal cabinet’s decision to deny non-Muslims the right to pray to Allah was an oversight caused by political pressure by some insecure Malayans who were both ignorant of Sabah and Sarawak and arrogant that Malayans could decide how Sabahans and Sarawakians, both at home and in the Peninsula, should live their life. These self-centric Malayans refuse to accept that Malaysia is an equal partnership of Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak.

"The High Court’s decision is merely correcting an injustice suffered by Sabahans, Sarawakians and Orang Asli caused by some Malayans’ insecurity, ignorance and arrogance. It will not cause proselytisation on and apostasy of Muslims, a false fear some Malayans try to monger.

"The High Court’s decision is a victory for Malaysia which will make our union stronger. It will enable Sabahan, Sarawakian and Orang Asli Christians to pray freely as their Dayak brothers and sisters across the border in Kalimantan do.

"The High Court’s decision is also a victory for Bahasa Malaysia as the national language and all its speakers, and a respect for the speakers of Bahasa Iban, Bidayuh, Lun Bawang, Lun Dayeh and Kelabit, languages of heritage in the land of Borneo.

"We call upon Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to withdraw the federal government’s appeal against the High Court’s decision, so that the 35-year-old polemic and the pain felt by so many Sabahans, Sarawakians and Orang Asli may finally end. It would be a positive legacy for the prime minister.

"We call upon all political parties to not exploit the High Court’s decision for narrow political mileage. Let this be closure for all and a step forward in national reconciliation so that we meet Allah’s plan that makes us different for us to know and love each other."

Dewan Rakyat representatives:

1. Wilfred Madius Tangau (P170 Tuaran)

2. Chan Foong Hin (P172 Kota Kinabalu)

3. Darell Leiking (P174 Penampang)

4. Noorita Sual (P181 Tenom)

5. Vivian Wong Shir Yee (P186 Sandakan)

6. Christina Liew (P190 Tawau; N20 Api-api)

7. Mordi Bimol (P192 Mas Gading)

8. Kelvin Yii Lee Wuen (P195 Bandar Kuching)

9. Chong Chieng Jen (P196 Stampin)

10. Willie Mongin (P198 Puncak Borneo)

11. Richard Riot Anak Jaem (P199 Serian)

12. Masir Kujat (P202 Sri Aman)

13. Wong Ling Biu (P208 Sarikei)

14. Larry Sng (P209 Julau)

15. Alice Lau Kiong Yieng (P211 Lanang)

16. Oscar Ling Chai Yew (P212 Sibu)

17. Baru Bian (P214 Selangau)

18. Anyi Ngau (P220 Baram)

Dewan Negara representatives:

1. Adrian Lasimbang

2. Alan Ling Sie Kiong

3. Donald Peter Mojuntin

4. Robert Lau Hui Yew

Sabah state legislative assembly members:

1. Ewon Benedick (N11 Kadamaian)

2. Peto Galim (N18 Inanam)

3. Tan Lee Fatt (N19 Likas)

4. Phoong Jin Zhe (N21 Luyang)

5. Jannie Lasimbang (N25 Kepayan)

6. Peter Anthony (N42 Melalap)

7. Calvin Chong Ket Kiun (N55 Elopura)

8. Frankie Poon Ming Fung (N56 Tanjong Papat)

9. Justin Wong Yung Bin (N69 Sri Tanjong)

Sarawak state legislative assembly members:

1. Ranum Mina (N1 Opar)

2. Harry Henry Jinep (N2 Tasik Biru)

3. Violet Violet Yong Wui Wui (N10 Pending)

4. See Chee How (N11 Batu Lintang)

5. Miro Simuh (N18 Serumbu)

6. Martin Ben (N22 Kedup)

7. John Ilus (N23 Bukit Semuja)

8. Snowdan Lawan (N30 Balai Ringin)

9. Johnical Rayong (N33 Engkilili)

10. Gerald Rentap Jabu (N36 Layar)

11. Rolland Duat (N48 Meluan)

12. Alexander Vincent (N49 Ngemah)

13. Allan Gramong (N50 Machan)

14. Irene Mary Chang Oi Ling (N51 Bukit Asek)

15. Wong Soon Koh (N53 Bawang Assan)

16. David Wong Kee Woan (N54 Pelawan)

17. Christopher Gira (N59 Tamin)

18. Wilson Nyabong (N61 Pelagus)

19. Jefferson Jamit (N63 Bukit Goram)

20. Kennedy Chuk Pai (N66 Murum)

21. Chiew Chiu Sing (N68 Tanjung Batu)

22. Majang Renggi (N70 Samalaju)

23. Dennis Ngau (N77 Telang Usan)

Political parties:

Democratic Action Party (DAP)

Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB)

Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB)

People's Justice Party (PKR)

Progressive Democratic Party (PDP)

Sabah Heritage Party (Warisan)

Sarawak People’s Party (PRS)

Sarawak United Peoples' Party (SUPP)

United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (Upko)

Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu)

Independent MPs

- Mkini