MINISTRY AWAITS WRITTEN JUDGMENT ON ‘ALLAH’ ISSUE
Hamzah urges all parties to remain calm and avoid speculating
THE Home Ministry will decide on its next move only after it receives the written judgment on the Kuala Lumpur High Court’s ruling on Wednesday that non-Muslims can use the word ‘Allah’ and three others for teaching purposes.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin yesterday said the ministry took note of the decision by the High Court on the issue of the word ‘Allah’ and other matters brought about by Jill Ireland Lawrence Bill, a Christian woman from Sarawak.
Hamzah called on all parties to remain calm until the ministry received the written judgment.
“I urge people to refrain from making any speculation or interpretation of the decision.
“I ask that all parties respect the legal process and the judiciary,” said Hamzah.
On Wednesday, Court of Appeal judge Datuk Nor Bee Ariffin, who sat as a High Court judge, ruled that the ministry’s directive to prohibit the use of four words by non-Muslims, the others being kaabah, solat and bait u ll ah, made 35 years ago was illegal and irrational.
The judgment came after 13 years of legal battle between the government and Ireland, a Melanau clerk from Sarawak.
Ireland filed the judicial review in August 2008 against the home minister and the government after the seizure of eight compact discs (CDs) containing the word ‘Allah’ by the Home Ministry near the Kuala Lumpur International Airport.
The CDs had the titles Cara Hidup Dalam Kerajaan Allah, Hidup Benar Dalam Kerajaan Allah and Ibadah Yang Benar Dalam Kerajaan Allah.
Nor Bee said the use of the words would not disrupt public order and that there was no dispute that the materials were for Ireland’s religious education.
She said Ireland’s right had been guaranteed under Article 8 of the Federal Constitution where she could practise her faith without discrimination.
“However, the word ‘Allah’ can be used only by the church, provided any publication is only for Christians,” said Nor Bee, adding that Christians in Sabah and Sarawak had used the word ‘Allah’ in their church for about 400 years.
Senior federal counsel Shamsul Bolhassan had said the four words could be used by Christians.
He said publications that contained the four words must carry a disclaimer that they were intended only for Christians, as well as a cross symbol.