Outgoing Archbishop Murphy Pakiam today broke away from his normally non-confrontational stance to publicly criticise Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak for his insistence that the word "Allah" is exclusive to Muslims.

Najib had said this in his Maal Hijrah speech in November, which Pakiam described as disappointing and shocking.

"What did he say? That even if the world talks and laughs about this 'Allah' issue, Malaysia will not allow (its use by non-Muslims), we (government) will defend the exclusivity of its use.

"This is not a man who is educated in our Catholic school. By talking like that, he is just a bickering politician, I am praying that Allah will enlighten him to become a statesman," he said.

Najib was educated at St John's Institute, just adjacent to the archbishop's official residence, where the annual Christmas high tea of the Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM)  was held today.

Pakiam said this to reporters when asked to respond to Najib's call to Muslims and Christian to cease the "Allah" debate at the national level Christmas open house in Penang today.

Pakiam: I still pray for Najib

Instead, Pakiam said Najib was the one who should stop preventing Christians from using the word "Allah".

Pakiam used Najib's experience in school as example as how the Christian community had helped Najib as a boy in a Catholic school and respected his Muslim faith.

"From a small boy, from primary school until Form 3, he (Najib) has been there (St John's Institute).

"When it came to catechism (classes), his mother was disturbed because he was just a small boy going to a (Christian) religious class.

"But his mother had confidence in our brothers and phoned Brother Matthew who said: 'Please, don't worry, we will see that he doesn't go in'," he said.

As such, Pakiam said, he hoped that Najib would do his duty and serve all Malaysians.

"You think I am not angry? But still? He is the prime minister, so I have to pray to God to please help him to do his duty for the whole country and not just for Umno," he said.

Incitement of hatred

The Court of Appeal had in October overturned a High Court decision that ruled that Home Ministry's ban against Christian publication the Herald from using the word 'Allah' was unconstitutional.

The Church is now appealing the decision in the Federal Court, in the hope of reinstating the High Court's ruling.

Pakiam said Najib's insistence of exclusivity for Muslims to use the term Allah was inciting right wing groups against the Christian community.

"He knows the law, he knows the judgment the judges gave and he (Najib) is saying: 'Oh it's allowed there (Sabah and Sarawak) but be careful in the peninsula. So, don't stir this up, you are playing with fire.'

"That is inciting Perkasa fellows to come and throw bombs here," said Pakiam with a touch of frustration in his voice.

Legal experts have questioned the government's move to permit the use of 'Allah' in East Malaysia, but yet continuing to defend the Court of Appeal decision.

The Court of Appeal had ruled that 'Allah' "is not an integral part of the Christian faith", a decision that affects Christians in both East and West Malaysia.