'Pakatan's stand on Allah neither submissive nor weak'

PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim said that Pakatan Rakyat will make its official stand on the ‘Allah’ issue after its national level meeting tomorrow.

Anwar (left) said PAS would be allowed to craft the statement as the party, including him, several other leaders and the Christians have been “unreasonably attacked” for their stand on it.

“They say we are being submissive and weak. But this is not the case. We look at it from the question of religion,” he told reporters during his Aidiladha visit to his parliamentary constituency, Permatang Pauh.

“My response, no matter how tough and difficult, is in trying to swing the thinking of the Malays, and not let it be exploited by Umno or their media,” he added.

“We need courage to push the (reform) agenda forward,” he stressed.

On Monday, a three-member bench of the Court of Appeal unanimously ruled disallowing the use of ‘Allah’ in the Malay edition of The Herald.

The decision elicited a wave of sentiments from Muslims and non-Muslims alike.

Anwar also criticised former Johor mufti Mohd Nooh Gadut (right) who warned that Muslims who question the court’s ruling on Allah issue risk being kafir (infidel) or an apostate.

“This mufti was directed by Umno but I would appeal that everyone do not make the situation more complicated than it already is,” said Anwar.

“I understand that some Malays and Muslims are concerned over certain Christian groups who are out to proselytise the community, the sentiments are valid,” he added.

“It is then our duty to explain things, in a nice way. Why demonise, insult and instigate people?” he asked.

‘Pakatan had referred to several ulama’

Meanwhile, Anwar said that before the court had decided, Pakatan has referred to several ulama, including PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang, to decide on the issue.

The decision, he said, was supported by both DAP and PKR.

“We do not urge for the ban of the use of ‘Allah’ if it is used with good intentions and in a proper manner, and not in a degrading manner,” Anwar explained.

He urged all sectors to take note of the sensitivities of the sentiments of various groups and do not use it as a way to promote “narrow racial sentiments”.

“After the court ruling, we respect the decision by judges and alsoThe Herald which wants to appeal the matter to the Federal Court,” he said.

Anwar said Umno has exploited the issue as if it is a defence of the dignity of Islam and the Malay race.

“We, on the other hand, see the controversy from the aspect of understanding and Islamic law,” he said.

He added that Pakatan had also referred to international Islamic scholars like Yusuf Qardawi who said the word ‘Allah’ can be used in a proper manner.

He said the Prophet’s father was named Abdullah, a servant of Allah, even before the existence of Islam.

“But since the court has decided, we let the appeal go. I urge for calm and not allow religious zealots to exploit this issue,” he added.