Contrary to yesterday's reports stating that the government would not stop anyone from protesting against the ‘Allah' ruling, Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein today appeared to be non-committal on the issue.

Speaking to reporters at his office in Putrajaya, Hishammuddin said that his statement yesterday was misreported.

hishammuddin hussein home ministry 140409 talking "I did not say that, I did not say that. I think what was reported and spun in the blogs was very mischievous, and the people who said I didn't say that, were there yesterday," he said.

Yesterday, the minister was quoted as saying that the government would not prohibit anyone from expressing their views on the issue over the use of the word ‘Allah' by the Catholic weekly magazine Herald as long as their actions do not undermine the national security.

He had also explained the difficult situation the government would be in if the people were banned from protesting.

"If we do not allow it, it will create a lot of emotions but if you allow it, it might become a security threat," he was reported as saying.

Meanwhile, English daily the Star quoted inspector-general of police Musa Hassan as saying that the police would take stern action against illegal gatherings.

However today, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak gave a green light to those who want to stage a protest so long as they congregate in the mosques.

NONE He stressed that the gatherings should be confined to the mosque compound and hoped that it will not spill over to "something more serious".

Tomorrow, several organisations are planning to stage a protest against the use of the word ‘Allah' by the Herald in its Bahasa Malaysia section.

The Herald , which is printed in four languages, has been using the word 'Allah' as a translation for 'God' in its Malay-language section, but the government argued 'Allah' should be used only by Muslims.

The term 'Allah' is widely used among indigenous Christian tribes in Sabah and Sarawak, most of whom speak Bahasa Malaysia.

Cabinet on same boat

Asked whether differing views on the ‘Allah' ruling would cause rifts in the cabinet, Hishammuddin said that it was normal for the ministers to have different opinions.

"As far as the cabinet is concerned, I don't think there is something so unique in differing views. It only becomes sensational if (they) refer to religious connotations and religious issues," he said.

According to him, the cabinet ministers are all on the same boat "no matter what colour (of skin) we are".

"No matter whether we are Buddhists, Christians or Muslims, we are responsible for the mandate (given by the people) on our shoulders," he said.

The controversy was sparked on Dec 31 following a high court ruling , allowing the Herald to use the word ‘Allah' in its Malay-language edition.

However, yesterday, the court had granted the Home Ministry a stay of execution , pending an appeal.

 

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