Penang state cabinet member in charge of Islamic affairs has denied allegations by Penang PAS that the state government interfered with the fatwa committee's ruling on the use of the word 'Allah'.

In a statement today, Abdul Malik Kasim said he had once asked the state mufti to discuss the fatwa ruling with participation from state government representatives.

This, he said, allowed the fatwa committee to take the state government's views into consideration.

"I wish to stress again my previous statement that the state government had not interfered in the 'Allah' fatwa what more ask the fatwa committee to change its stance to follow that of the state government," said Abdul Malik.

He said the fatwa committee eventually decided to ignore the state government's position. He said the government accepted this and respected the committee's decision.

Previously Penang PAS commissioner Muhammad Fauzi Yusof had claimed that the state government was exceeding its bounds by interfering with the fatwa committee, including blocking some edicts.

Sinar Harian yesterday reported Penang fatwa committee member Md Salleh Ahmad claiming that the state government, through Abdul Malik, had interfered with the committee's decision to issue a fatwa on the use of the word 'Allah' in 2010.

He said that Abdul Malik had instructed for the fatwa to be discussed again so that the committee's decision is in line with the DAP led-government's stance that non-Muslims could use the word 'Allah'.

Md Salleh said this was regrettable and was an embarrassment for Muslims in the states.