Perkasa's Zulkifli Noordin wants the ruling by the Court of Appeal today to be applied to the Al-Kitab that is used by Christians in Sabah and Sarawak. The Malaysian Insider pic, October 14, 2013.A Barisan Nasional (BN) lawmaker from Sabah warned Perkasa not to drag the Borneo states into the Allah ruling today by the Court of Appeal which banned the use of the word Allah in the Catholic weekly, Herald.
BN Tuaran MP Datuk Madius Tangau took offence to Perkasa deputy president Zulkifli Noordin's statement that the ban should be extended to churches in Sabah and Sarawak.
Speaking to reporters after the Court of Appeal decision this morning, Zulkifli said that churches in Sabah and Sarawak should be "educated" on the court ruling.
Zulkifli added that while it was alright for the Al-Kitab, the Bahasa Malaysia version of the Bible, to be distributed in Malaysia, it must not contain 32 words, including Allah.
"Back off Zulkifli Noordin. We, the people of all religions, live in peace and harmony here in East Malaysia, where we have different faiths within the same family," said Madius who is also United Pasok Momogun Kadazandusun Murut (UPKO) party secretary-general.
Madius said the usage of the word Allah predates Islam and that one of the main highlights of the 20-point agreement for the formation of Malaysia was that there was to be no official religion for Sabah and Sarawak.
"This is clearly stated in the Inter-Governmental Committee report and the Federal Constitution on the freedom of religion.
"So not to use this word or that word goes against the 20-point agreement, which is the foundation on which Malaysia was formed," he added.
Madius said Zulkifli can say whatever he wanted, but he should back off on the words which the people of Sabah and Sarawak can or cannot use.
On today's court ruling, Madius said he fully supports the church's right to take the matter to the Federal Court.
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