Non-Malays who reject BN because they want "equality" should call for the Selangor government to amend the Islamic enactment banning their use of the word 'Allah'.

Culture and Tourism Minister Nazri Aziz ( below ) played the devil's advocate today pointing out Pakatan Rakyat has the requisite majority in the state assembly to do so.

"The Christians who want to use the word 'Allah' should urge Selangor MB Azmin Ali, because they (Pakatan) have two-thirds majority to amend the enactment, to remove the section involved," he said at an event in Subang Jaya today.

"Amend it so that Christians can use it. They are so keen on equality, right?" he said.

Between 1986 and 2007 BN state governments in Peninsular Malaysia passed their respective Islamic enactments banning a number of words including 'Allah' from non-Muslim use.

However Pakatan's Selangor government that took over in 2008 bore the brunt of the controversy this year when the state Islamic authorities raided Bible Society Malaysia and confiscated over 300 copies of the Malay and Iban bibles that refer to 'Allah' as god.

Selangor's enactment was passed in 1988 during Umno rule, the third state to do so after Terengganu (1986) and Kelantan (1987).

'What's wrong with what Dr M said?'

On another note, Nazri also agreed with former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad's statement that Malays had become "beggars" in their own land.

He noted that since parties representing Malays had now been split into three, Malays sometimes have to beg and "even sell their own kin" to attain victory in general elections.

"Yes, it's true that we have become beggars. What's wrong with what Mahathir ( left ) said?" Nazri asked.

"Because it is a factor that determines victory. So what the Chinese want, they have to give. If (Malays) have to sell off their own kind, they do. But Umno doesn't do that. It is the other parties that sell off their own kind," he stressed.

"What Mahathir said is true, do not be angry with him. We should know that he is actually making us aware. Eh, Malays must realise by now. They still do not realise?" he asked.

On Saturday, Mahathir said that the political split among Malays has resulted in them having to woo the Chinese for electoral support.

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