PETALING JAYA: The 10-point solution put forward by the government in 2011 is the best way to resolve the use of the word “Allah” by non-Muslims, says Najib Razak who was prime minister at that time.
He said the solution would put to rest all the problems that have again arisen following a decision by the High Court that Christians are allowed to use the word “Allah” in their religious education.
While many have claimed that the decision shows the right to freedom of religion in Malaysia, others have called for street protests against the court decison. Police have also promised a crackdown if anyone tried to organise street protests.
The 10-point solution was a Cabinet policy decision to resolve issues pertaining to the import, printing, distribution and use of the Bible in Sabah, Sarawak and the peninsula.
That decision, among others, imposed no restriction on Christians from Sabah and Sarawak to carry with them Bibles that contained the word Allah, provided the holy scriptures include the words “Christian Publication”.
“The 10-point solution in 2011 is the best way to resolve the years-long controversy regarding Bibles especially in Sabah and Sarawak by upholding the Constitution and the Malaysia 1963 Agreement (MA63),” Najib said in a Facebook post today.
He noted that while the resolution was subject to Federal and state laws, Islamic enactments were not applicable to Sabah and Sarawak.
Recently, after 13 years and 12 adjournments, the High Court, in a landmark ruling, allowed a judicial review application by Sarawakian Christian Jill Ireland that she can use the word “Allah” in her religious education.
Judge Noor Bee Ariffin said a Dec 5, 1986, home ministry directive to prohibit the use of the words “Allah”, “Baituallah”, “Solat” and “Kaabah” by non-Muslims was illegal and unconstitutional.
The judge said the directive was wrongly issued as it went beyond the aim of the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984. - FMT
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