'Allah' issue resolution was cabinet decision, not DAP request - Loke

 

It was a decision by the first Pakatan Harapan cabinet to resolve the use of the word Allah in Sarawak outside the court process and not at the request of DAP, as claimed by PN chairperson Muhyiddin Yassin.

According to a report by Sinar Harian, DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke said Muhyiddin's action of linking DAP to the issue was unfair.

"Who is he (Muhyiddin) referring to? At that time, I was also in the cabinet, and I never raised the issue.

"In fact, the decision to resolve the issue outside the court was actually a decision of the cabinet, and maybe he was not present during the cabinet meeting that made the decision," he said when met in Seremban after the launch ceremony to rename Jalan Temiang to Jalan Dr Chen Man Hin.

Loke said at that time, the Home Ministry, which Muhyiddin helmed during the 2018 Harapan administration, did not agree with the decision and wanted it to be taken to the High Court.

Therefore he said Muhyiddin should not blame DAP alone, which clearly has a particular political purpose.

"PN has no capital other than playing up racial and religious sentiments.

"As stated by Prime Minister (Anwar Ibrahim) the cabinet firmly defends the principle that religious issues need to be handled sensitively and well," he said.

The Seremban MP said the cabinet, as the highest decision maker in the country, always defends the position of Islam and the position of the Federal Constitution.

He adds the issue needs to be dealt with well and harmoniously in Malaysia, which has a pluralistic society.

"So we hope that issues like this are managed with prudence and kindness without touching the sensitivities of any party," he said.

Muhyiddin claimed that a DAP minister had approached him to try and get the Jill Ireland case settled out of court.

Loke was responding to Muhyiddin’s claim that a minister from the DAP had approached him to try and get the Jill Ireland case settled out of court during his tenure as a home minister under the first Harapan government.

Muhyiddin claimed in a statement that he had rejected the suggestion as the Home Ministry wanted Ireland’s case settled in court.

During the time Harapan was in power, Ireland - a Melanau Christian - was awaiting a High Court decision on her bid for a declaration that she had a right to use the word “Allah”.

The case was decided in her favour in 2021 when Muhyiddin was prime minister.

Former Harapan-era works minister Baru Bian - a PKR member then - said after the court decision, the cabinet had decided to settle the Ireland case out of court in 2019.

DAP chairperson Lim Guan Eng also challenged Muhyiddin to name the minister.

“I challenge him to name the person. If he fails to mention who the minister is, he is a liar and a coward,” Lim told Malaysiakini. - Mkini