EXCLUSIVE As a statesman, PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim should have taken a neutral approach to the ‘Allah’ issue instead of adopting a “partisan” attitude, says outspoken leader Zulkifli Noordin.

According to the Kulim Bandar Baru MP, he had even argued the controversial matter with Anwar, telling him that there are two “conflicting and extreme” stands either in favour of Christians or Muslims.

NONEHe pointed out that a number of renowned and non-partisan religious scholars are dead set against the High Court’s decision allowing non-Muslims to use the word ‘Allah’ in reference to  their God.

“Even Christian scholars such as Father Albert Muller and scholars from the Vatican do not agree with the decision. Muslim scholars such as Syed Naquib Al Attas and Siddiq Fadzil are also against the idea.

“I told (Anwar) that he has Islamic credentials and should look into these two extreme views. He should have taken a neutral approach on this through discussions with religious scholars,” he told Malaysiakini at a recent interview.

Only after that, said the practising Syariah lawyer, the party should have released a statement on  its stand.

“But they chose to jump (the gun) and made a partisan view instead. That is not a stateman’s stand. That is why I always maintain that we should not play politics. This is about religion and involves aqidah (faith),” said Zulkifli.

Anwar, even before the ‘Allah’ issue erupted, had said that the non-Muslims can use the word Allah and the disputed word is not exclusive to Muslims.
 
PKR’s stand ‘puzzles’ me
 
PKR had expressed support for the court decision to allow the Christian publication Herald to use ‘Allah’ for God in its Malay-language section.

The party’s religious affairs division head Muhd Nur Manuty said it was an “excellent development” for the non-Muslims to use it and the decision should be accepted with “an open heart.”
 
But Zulkifli, claimed that he had no knowledge of any discussion within the  PKR before the statement was released.                         

Q and A: I have always been consistent with my principles
 
NONEBeing part of a political party does not mean that one has to change their original views and principles, says Zulkifli.
 
Stressing that he has always been consistent with his religious principles, Zulkifli said Anwar was made known about this even before his involvement with PKR.
 
He also stressed that PKR, PAS and Umno should “sit down and talk” for the benefit of the people.
 
Edited excerpts follow from the interview.

Malaysiakini: You won in the previous general elections on a PKR ticket, a multi-racial party. Despite all that, you still have a different ideology compared to the rest.
 
Zulkifli Noordin: Even before I joined Anwar in PKR, I was known as a person who fights for Islam, especially when  it concerns aqidah (faith).

Since 1993, I was involved directly in making public appearances over this. Even when both Anwar and I were in Umno, my statements on Islam had always been consistent.
 
About me going against the Bar Council is also not a new thing. The high point of my going against them was during the conversion case of a Muslim girl Nur Aishah Bukhari back in 1997.

You said you have been consistent with your principles on Islam, but Anwar, as the head of the party has his own principles. People say you are still not fit to be in the party.
 
I had been like this even before the previous general elections, when people knew the real me. But some people only got the cut-off point (changed)  after the general elections. I think this is not fair to me because my principles on Islam have been consistent since way back when. This was what I wanted to convey to the people.
 
That is why, I have always used the religious line when I was with Anwar during the reformasi years. When I took the stage to give my ceramah, I would say that I helped him because of Islam, which teaches us to help those who are being harmed.
 
At a recent interview with New Straits Times, you said PAS and DAP cannot be together and Umno, PAS, and PKR should sit down together and talk. Where do you think Pakatan is headed now?
 
For me, it is for the good of the people and the country and not the party. I always believed we have to do what is good for the people.

For the good of the nation, maybe it is time for PKR, PAS and Umno to sit down together. We are the backbone and the main player. The rest are all fringes hanging to us.
 
If you ask any decent common Chinese man what they think of this, they would admit that they would be gone if the country is not ruled by a Malay Muslim. So it is the most important thing if we, the Malay Muslims show the true justice of Islam to all races.
 
But what Umno has done is also not a good thing. They sidelined all of the races except the Malays. You cannot deny the rights of other races. If I were them, I would be mad with Umno as well.

VIDEO | 3 mins

Part 1: Zul Noordin: I would quit PKR today
Part 3 tomorrow: ‘I have a strong grassroots' support’