A day after the about-turn on the toll hike for five major highways in the Klang Valley, the government has today changed its mind allowing conditional use of the word ‘Allah’ in Christian publications.

Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar conceded that the government has made a mistake in enacting the gazette on the controversial issue.

syed hamid albar 170608 talking According to Bernama , Syed Hamid said the government's decision to ban the use of the word ‘Allah’ in Catholic weekly, The Herald , remained in force until the court decided otherwise.

"There is a judicial review on the matter and we leave it to the court to decide. I think there was a mistake in enacting the gazette. When we made a mistake I must admit that there is a need look at it thoroughly,” said the home minister.

"As there was a mistake... so it is better we make a correction."

Syed Hamid was responding to the call by the Malaysian Islamic Da'wah Foundation (Yadim) to withdraw permission for the conditional use of the word ‘Allah’ in Christian publications.

The gazetting of an order under the Internal Security Act in allowing the use of the word 'Allah ' in Christian texts with restrictions, it has also met with opposition from the Syariah Lawyers Association.

Its president, Zainul Rijal Abu Bakar, said the order made by Syed Hamid goes against the cabinet ministers’ directive at its meeting on May 19, 1986 which allowed the use of 12 words in other religious texts outside Islam.

"The four words which were gazetted including 'Allah' were not among the 12 words that was agreed upon.

"Hence, the move taken by Syed Hamid goes against the spirit of the dabinet directive and is considered illegal," he said.

Besides the word 'Allah ', the other words allowed to be used based on the order were 'Kaabah ', 'Baitullah ' and 'Solat '. These terms have been in wide use among the local Christians in Sabah and Sarawak.

Zainur Rijal pointed out that as the directive had also been adopted by several state governments under the purview of Malay rulers, the order signed by the minister can be considered defective.

"This is because Islamic matters comes under the jurisdiction of the Malay rulers. Hence, with the order, it could be considered Syed Hamid had committed 'derhaka' (treason) against the Malay rulers," he said.

Order effective on Feb 16

Syed Hamid had signed the order which carried the title “Internal Security (Prohibition On Use of Specific Words on Document and Publication) Order 2009". The order allows Christians to use the term ' Allah ' but only in print.

'The printing, publishing, sale, issue, circulation and possession of any document and publication relating to Christianity containing the words ' Allah ', ' Kaabah ', ' Baitullah ' and ' Solat ' are prohibited unless on the front cover of the document and publication are written the words 'For Christianity’," read the order.

Yesterday, senior Federal Counsel Nizam Zakaria informed the High Court (Appellate and Special Powers Division) the order had become effective on Feb 16 after it was gazetted.

"I believe that the applicants' application in the matter would be academic," she said.

The archbishop named the minister and government as respondents in the March 19, 2008 judicial review application, where it sought the following declarations:

herald the catholic weekly online 241207 1) The decision by the respondents dated Feb 12, 2008, that the permit gained by the applicant's publication permit from Jan 1, 2008 till Dec 31, 2008, was subject to the "guides of publication" dated March 1, 2007, which prohibits the applicant from using the word ' Allah ' in the weekly publication, Herald - The Catholic Weekly is illegal, null and void.

2) The applicant is entitled to use the word ' Allah ' in the Herald; and

3) That the word ' Allah ' is not exclusive to the religion of Islam.

The application, supported by an affidavit by Archbishop Murphy Nicholas Xavier Pakiam, also seeks costs of the action.

Perak mufti Harussani Zakaria also surprised with the decision by the minister to allow the use of the word ' Allah '.

Harussani who is the 'Tokoh Maal Hijrah ' recipient questioned why this should be allowed.

"According to the Perak Islamic Council enactment, such matters should not be allowed," the mufti said, affirming what Zainur Rijal had claimed.

In the case, seven state Islamic councils namely Terengganu, Federal Territory, Penang, Selangor, Kedah, Johor and Malacca and the Malaysian Chinese Muslims Association had applied to be interveners on the side of the home minister and government.

The court case was fixed for hearing on May 28.

With today's reversal by the government, it is now up to the courts to decide on the issue.