Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's moderate image which he has painstakingly built since ascending to power is crumbling after his cabinet essentially established a two-law system in the country, says DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang.

Dubbing this as the '2Malaysia policy', Lim pointed out that the government had bowed to right wing pressure by fighting in the courts to ban Christians from using the word 'Allah' and after the success , is now suggesting that the ban is only applicable to the peninsula and not Sabah and Sarawak.

"penang save democracy rally 180513 lim kit siangHas Najib's 1Malaysia policy degenerated in four years into a 2Malaysia Policy with different interpretations of the constitutional guarantee of freedom of religion for two different regions in Malaysia?" asked Lim (right).

His remarks come in the wake the cabinet announcement that Sabah and Sarawak, which boast a substantial Christian population, can continue using the word ‘Allah' despite the Court of Appeal's ban on Christian using the word.

""Is Najib aware that the 'Global Movement of Moderates' which he had painstakingly promoted and fostered in international forums (although not in the country) in the past four years is the greatest casualty of the furores created by the Court of Appeal 'Allah' judgement and the cabinet decision," added Lim.

Lim queried whether the cabinet can override a court decision which the government itself sought but is now saying that it only applies to a particular region of the country.

Furthermore, he said this episode has also thrown the question of judicial independence, freedom of religion and 1Malaysia into frontal focus.

"Most pertinent of all, when is Najib going to end his inelegant silence and respond to the many queries... Or are Malaysians seeing the first fruit of Najib's new slogan and stance of 'Endless Possibilities'?" he said.

MCA backs appeal

Meanwhile, in a separate statement, MCA threw its support behind the Catholic Church's decision to appeal the ruling.

"While we respect the Court of Appeal's decision, nevertheless, we also agree with the Christian community to not give up their struggle in the usage of the word as the Federal Constitution protects religious freedom," said MCA central committee member Loh Seng Kok.

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