‘Allah’ on police emblem: No fatwa to forbid non-Muslim cops

Deputy Home Minister Wan Junaidi says the police cap is gazetted under the law as part of the accessories for the police force.

UPDATED

KUALA LUMPUR: There is no fatwa forbidding non-Muslim cops from wearing the Selangor police cap which has the words ‘Allah’ and ‘Prophet Muhammad’ on it, said Deputy Home Minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.

“Non-Muslim policemen can wear the cap because it is not used for prayers,” Wan Junaidi said when asked to comment on the use of the cap by non-Muslim policemen in the state.

The words appear in Arabic on the top half of the emblem.

On Nov 14, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah ruled that non-Muslims in Selangor could not use the word Allah even in their respective holy books.

The ruling came in the wake of a Court of Appeal’s decision on Oct 14 to bar Catholic weekly The Herald from using the word ‘Allah’ in their Malay section.

This prompted questions on whether ‘Allah’ can be used by non -Muslims in other context such as in the state anthem.

Selangor mufti Mohd Tamyes Abdul Wahid on Nov 16 clarified that Muslims and non-Muslims alike could sing the state anthem that contained the word Allah for the well-being of the sultan.

Wan Junaidi said all police accessories, including the cap, was gazetted under the law for the policemen, regardless of their faith.

State police chief: Stop politicising
Meanwhile Selangor police chief, Deputy Commissioner Shukri Dahlan said that the Sultan Selangor’s decree has nothing to do with the police force.

He also explained that the badge and logo containing the words ‘Allah’ and ‘Mohammad’ have been integrated under the law.

Speaking briefly to FMT this afternoon, he said it was okay for his non-Muslim policemen to don the uniform and the badge.

“It has nothing to do with the police force, the logo and badge are under the law. It is totally acceptable for my men to wear it,” he said.

The senior police officer also urged everyone to stop politicising the issue and adviced them to respect the Sultan’s decree and the law.

“I hope that we all can stop playing with the issue. Police logo is under the law and it has nothing to do with the Sultan’s decree. On another note, do respect the Sultan’s statement,” he said.

“I have seen blogs that are currently playing up this issue. . I hope they stop politicising the issue as it would not bring any good to the country,” Shukri said.