Perikatan Nasional chairperson Muhyiddin Yassin has again reached for the Christian card for campaign purposes, this time in relation to Jill Ireland’s "Allah" case.
During a ceramah in Kapar, Selangor on Sunday, Muhyiddin claimed that the government's decision to drop an appeal on Ireland's case showed that the Anwar Ibrahim administration agreed with the court that Christians can use the word “Allah”.
"Anwar became prime minister and made a decision not to appeal (the case). Isn't that different?
"When you don't appeal, it means you accept the court decision up to then that allows Christians to use the word ‘Allah’," he said.
He then accused Anwar of being manipulated into making the decision by DAP.
"Do you (audience) know who caused this decision to be made?
"Yes, he is Anwar, but behind Anwar are DAP members, who I know, when I was (home) minister also pressured to not appeal (the Ireland case)," he said.
In response to Muhyiddin's speech, DAP has lodged a police report against the former premier, for playing on 3R (race, religion, royalty) issues.
Bukit Bendera MP Syerleena Abdul Rashid lodged the report on Monday urging police to investigate the PN chief under the Sedition Act and Section 505 of the Penal Code for statements conducive to public mischief.
"This was hypocritical behaviour by PN when they themselves use the 3R issues during elections.
"Their intentions are nothing more than to create hatred and fear among voters for Pakatan Harapan," she was quoted as saying by Sinar Daily yesterday.
Govt drops appeal
News broke that the government was dropping its appeal on the Ireland case in May leading to an uproar among conservatives who believe the word “Allah” was exclusive to Muslims.
Anwar had said that the decision to drop the appeal was so that the government can amend laws that leave room for contradictions on the “Allah” issue so that the matter can no longer be challenged in court.
The government also plans to limit the use of the word by non-Muslims to those in Sabah and Sarawak only.
Meanwhile, DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke denied that the cabinet decision to drop the Ireland appeal was influenced by DAP.
Party chairperson Lim Guan Eng had also challenged Muhyiddin to reveal which DAP minister had lobbied the latter to not appeal the Ireland case when the PN chief was home minister.
This is the second notable time Muhyiddin has played up Muslims against Christians on the campaign trail.
During the 15th general election, he had claimed that a group of Jews and Christians were plotting for Malaysia to be ruled by their proxy - Harapan.
“To me, this is dangerous. Does it mean there will be a ‘Christianisation’ process? We have heard stories before, haven't we?
“In Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Jaya, there are Malays attending church on Sundays. They have become Christians.
“I don’t think (there are that many) because most of us are Muslims. However, their agenda and intent are to turn Malaysia into a colony," he had said last November. - Mkini
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