KOTA KINABALU: Former Sabah chief minister Shafie Apdal has claimed that the Perikatan Nasional federal government is trying to score political points by appealing against the High Court’s decision on the word “Allah”.
Shafie, who is Warisan president, said the appeal was also a tactic to rally the Muslim community ahead of the next general election, which could take place any time before the term of the current Parliament ends in 2023.
“They (government) orchestrated this … the moment Putrajaya appeals, they want to get the credit, so that’s how they unite the Muslims,” he said, after a meeting at the party’s headquarters here today.
“They will use this with the Ramadan month approaching and (later) in election campaigns. After Ramadan is over, anything can happen.
“This is not a new tactic, I can read their move.”
Shafie, whose party Warisan had campaigned heavily using its “Unity” theme in last year’s state election, said he was always consistent that the word “Allah” should not be exclusive to a certain group.
“What I’m saying is manage the use of the word. If there are tendencies to abuse or confuse (using the word) then you manage it.
“But don’t restrict it because God is semesta alam (universal),” he said.
Kuala Lumpur High Court Judge Nor Bee Ariffin had earlier this month, in allowing a judicial review by a Sarawakian Christian, said a Dec 5, 1986 home affairs ministry directive prohibiting the use of certain words by non-Muslims was illegal and unconstitutional, adding that it was wrongly issued as it went beyond the aim of the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984.
The government has already filed its appeal against the High Court ruling that the home ministry’s directive in 1986 to prohibit the use of the words “Allah”, “Baitullah”, “Solat” and “Kaabah” by non-Muslims was illegal and unconstitutional. - FMT
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