Non-Muslims still barred from using ‘Allah’ in Selangor, says MB

 

Selangor menteri besar Amirudin Shari said recent developments on the ‘Allah’ issue will not affect the state government’s stance on the matter.

PETALING JAYA: Non-Muslims in Selangor are still barred from using the word “Allah”, says menteri besar Amirudin Shari.

Amirudin said the state government adheres to the 2021 decree issued by Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah forbidding non-Muslims in Selangor from using the word “Allah”.

In a statement today, he said the sultan’s decree was in line with the Federal Court’s 2014 ruling in the case of Titular Roman Catholic Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur vs home ministry, and a 2010 fatwa issued in Selangor.

In the 2014 case, the apex court refused to grant leave to the Catholic church to challenge the home ministry’s ban on the usage of the word “Allah” in the church’s Malay edition of the weekly Herald.

He said developments on the issue did not change the state government’s stance on the matter.

The “Allah” issue was reignited this week after it was reported that the home ministry had withdrawn its appeal against the High Court ruling on a Sarawakian woman’s right to use the word “Allah” in her religious learning.

“The state government is firm in protecting the interests and (religious) sensitivities (of Selangorians),” Amirudin said, adding that unity and harmony in the state must be maintained.

Earlier today, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said the Cabinet will submit its recommendations on the “Allah” issue to the Conference of Rulers.

Anwar said the Cabinet has obtained the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s green light to submit its recommendations related to government directives on the usage of the word “Allah”, among others, among non-Muslims. - FMT