Cabinet minister Maximus Ongkili yesterday defended the right of Christians to use the word ‘Allah’ but said The Herald’s move to bring the matter to court was counter-productive.
He also suggested other terms which Christians can use to refer to God instead of ‘Allah’, so as to be sensitive to feelings of their Muslim neighbours.
According to Bernama, the PBS deputy president said that the matter should instead be resolved through negotiations at federal government level.
“PBS will continue to pursue the rights of Christians in Sabah and Sarawak to use the word ‘Allah’ in their worship, prayers, Bibles (sic) and Christian practice as they have been doing since before Merdeka,” he was quoted by the national newswire as saying.
Speaking at a party event, he reportedly said that PBS will continue to protect the 10-point solution - a cabinet guarantee brokered before the 2011 Sarawak election to allow the use, print and distribution of the Bible in Bahasa Malaysia and indigenous languages.
This is despite the copies of the Bible using the word ‘Allah’ - an act prohibited by state enactments in most states including Sabah.
However, the Daily Express reported that Ongkili opposes The Herald Catholic weekly’s court action, which is supported by the church, as the verdict could set a precedent.
“The church taking the case to court is not the solution. Once the court makes a ruling, it sets a precedent and becomes law. Whatever the verdict, it makes some happy and others angry,” he reportedly told the daily.
He said that the issue is an emotive and political matter, and that the sensitivities of Muslims should also be considered.
He also appeared to agree with the Court of Appeal ruling that the word ‘Allah’ is not essential to the Christian faith.
“In loving our neighbour, we must be sensitive to others who are not comfortable with our use (of the word) ‘Allah’.
“Theologically speaking, if ‘Allah’ is critical in my prayers then I can understand the sentiments.
“But if other words carry the same meaning (in addressing God), then I will not want to hurt others whose views are different from mine,” he said.
Consider ‘Bapa Syurga’ or ‘Kinorohingan’
He said that besides ‘Allah’, Christians who worship in Bahasa Malaysia and indigenous languages may consider addressing God as ‘Bapa Syurga’ or the Kadazan ‘Kinorohingan’.
In the report published on Feb 7, he said there are also the Latin and Hebrew terms ‘Jehovah’ and ‘Yahweh’ to consider as well as the English ‘Trinity God’.
“Using such terms does not in any way affect the quality of my worship,” he was quoted as saying.
The majority of Christians in Malaysia reside in Sabah and Sarawak. Most worshiping in Bahasa Malaysia or indigenous languages and refer to God as ‘Allah’ - a practice which has been in place since before Malaysia was formed in 1963.
Sarawak does not have an enactment barring non-Muslims from using ‘Allah’, but the Sabah enactment which prohibits the use was gazetted in 2003.
BN events in Sabah, especially for Kadazandusun Murut parties, are routinely kicked off with Christian prayers where the word ‘Allah’ is used.
He also suggested other terms which Christians can use to refer to God instead of ‘Allah’, so as to be sensitive to feelings of their Muslim neighbours.
According to Bernama, the PBS deputy president said that the matter should instead be resolved through negotiations at federal government level.
“PBS will continue to pursue the rights of Christians in Sabah and Sarawak to use the word ‘Allah’ in their worship, prayers, Bibles (sic) and Christian practice as they have been doing since before Merdeka,” he was quoted by the national newswire as saying.
Speaking at a party event, he reportedly said that PBS will continue to protect the 10-point solution - a cabinet guarantee brokered before the 2011 Sarawak election to allow the use, print and distribution of the Bible in Bahasa Malaysia and indigenous languages.
This is despite the copies of the Bible using the word ‘Allah’ - an act prohibited by state enactments in most states including Sabah.
However, the Daily Express reported that Ongkili opposes The Herald Catholic weekly’s court action, which is supported by the church, as the verdict could set a precedent.“The church taking the case to court is not the solution. Once the court makes a ruling, it sets a precedent and becomes law. Whatever the verdict, it makes some happy and others angry,” he reportedly told the daily.
He said that the issue is an emotive and political matter, and that the sensitivities of Muslims should also be considered.
He also appeared to agree with the Court of Appeal ruling that the word ‘Allah’ is not essential to the Christian faith.
“In loving our neighbour, we must be sensitive to others who are not comfortable with our use (of the word) ‘Allah’.
“Theologically speaking, if ‘Allah’ is critical in my prayers then I can understand the sentiments.
“But if other words carry the same meaning (in addressing God), then I will not want to hurt others whose views are different from mine,” he said.
Consider ‘Bapa Syurga’ or ‘Kinorohingan’
He said that besides ‘Allah’, Christians who worship in Bahasa Malaysia and indigenous languages may consider addressing God as ‘Bapa Syurga’ or the Kadazan ‘Kinorohingan’.
In the report published on Feb 7, he said there are also the Latin and Hebrew terms ‘Jehovah’ and ‘Yahweh’ to consider as well as the English ‘Trinity God’.
“Using such terms does not in any way affect the quality of my worship,” he was quoted as saying.
The majority of Christians in Malaysia reside in Sabah and Sarawak. Most worshiping in Bahasa Malaysia or indigenous languages and refer to God as ‘Allah’ - a practice which has been in place since before Malaysia was formed in 1963.
Sarawak does not have an enactment barring non-Muslims from using ‘Allah’, but the Sabah enactment which prohibits the use was gazetted in 2003.
BN events in Sabah, especially for Kadazandusun Murut parties, are routinely kicked off with Christian prayers where the word ‘Allah’ is used.
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