Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng blasted the MCA for lying, saying the ban on the use of Islamic words by non-Muslims, including 'Allah', is not enforceable in the state.

Lim said he was surprised that the demand came from MCA central committee member Ti Lian Ker, who is a lawyer.

"I am disappointed because he is not a very worthy lawyer. Why does he lie about it while referring to the enactment," Lim said when asked to comment about the matter.

"The enactment applies only to Muslims and not non-Muslims. Penang has not passed any law to make it enforceable on non-Muslims," he added.

Lim asked why MCA was asking the Penang government to amend a law "when there is no law to amend".

He added: "Don't let a non-lawyer tell you (Ti, left ) this, the issue does not arise here.I wonder where he got his law degree from."

Lim said the churches in Penang were aware of the matter and do not wish to create any polemics.

He added that non-Muslims in Penang do not use the words anyway as most pray in the English, Chinese or Tamil languages, unless the believers are from Sabah or Sarawak.

He said declarations could be made by any quarter as the country is a democracy. However, the question is whether these are enforceable.

Solat, imam among the banned words

In a press statement yesterday, Ti asked Penang and Selangor to use their powers to amend their respective state amendments over ‘Allah’ ban, since Pakatan Rakyat have the majority in the two states.

Ti was referring to the Penang Islamic Religious Administration Enactment 2004, which has listed 40 words that non-Muslims are banned from using.

The banned words include 'Allah', 'surau', 'haji', 'khutbah', 'solat' and 'imam'.

The term ‘Allah’ sparked controversy when the Federal Court overturned a lower court decision and ruled that non-Muslims cannot use the word to refer to God.

However, Muslim leaders, including Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim, have reiterated their position that no one has the right to ban any quarter from using the word 'Allah'.

Meanwhile, Lim also announced at the press conference two new appointments, both from PAS.

Penang PAS secretary Mohd Fadzil Kemi is now Lim's information officer, while another PAS member, Jamaludin Said, has been appointed as the coordinator for Bayan Lepas.

Also present were PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu and state executive councillors Abdul Malik Kassim and Dr Afif Bahardin.