KUCHING: Selangau MP Baru Bian has urged all quarters to not politicise the High Court’s decision that the word ‘Allah’ can be used by non-Muslims nationwide.
He said Justice Datuk Nor Bee Ariffin, who made the ruling on Wednesday (March 10), recognised that the Christians of Sabah and Sarawak had been using the word ‘Allah’ for generations in the practice of their Christian faith, even noting the existence of Christian publications in Malay dating back to the 1600s.
“Clearly, the usage of the word ‘Allah’ goes back to even before the formation of Malaysia and before the promulgation of the Federal Constitution.
“The Iban word ‘Allah Tala’ which is similar to the Muslim’s Allah Taala has also been in use for many centuries, without any problems or confusion,” he said.
Baru took note that the United Malay National Organisation (Umno) and Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) were not happy with the decision and want an appeal to be filed.
“Whilst we recognise the right of appeal, we would state that this matter should not be politicised as it has been from the beginning.
“The learned judge has addressed the claim by certain quarters that the use of ‘Allah’ will cause confusion among the Muslims, noting that there was no evidence of the allegation, nor was there any threat of public disorder resulting from the use of this word,” he said in a statement on Thursday (March 11).
