Muhyiddin: Gov't to abide to court decision on 'Allah'

Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin today said that the government would find the best approach to resolve the controversy over the use of the term ‘Allah’.

But he reminded all parties not to undermine the peace and harmony enjoyed by the nation.

"We want a stern action against those found guilty in this issue. This is not about the Malay or non-Malay but about who committed the offence. There will be no compromise, irrespective of whether they are Malays, Chinese or Indians.

"We will not politicise this issue because this is not a political issue. This is about peace and harmony in the country. We should defend it at all cost. We should not be careless or adopt a lackadaisical attitude," he said.

He also said that the people, irrespective of their race, should defend the country from elements out to undermine peace and harmony among them.

At a press conference today, Muhyiddin was also asked to comment on the statement of Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz on the use of the term in Sabah and Sarawak.

He said at the moment the government would abide by the court's ruling.

Last month, the Kuala Lumpur High Court quashed a three-year Home Ministry proscription against the use by Catholic weekly The Herald of the term 'Allah' in its Malay section, meant for its Christian bumiputera readership.

The government has since appealed the decision, but this did not abate anger among certain quarters of the Malay-Muslim population, who believe the issue is part of an effort to advance Christian proselytisation among Muslims.

Inter-religious dialogue

On the setting up of a special committee on religious harmony, Muhyiddin said the initiative had already been started but it has yet to be formulated.

"I will obtain the views of the prime minister whether the committee can be set up," he said, adding that the time might have come to consider the committee seriously so that it would not be seen merely as an ad-hoc panel.

On the suggestion for inter-religious dialogue, Muhyiddin said it was a good proposal but what was important was the formula coming out of such dialogue should be able to resolve the Allah issue.

- Bernama