MCA makes U-turn over 'Allah' row
Published: Aug 3, 2010 12:13 PM | Updated: Aug 4, 2010 2:58 AM
In barely 24-hours, MCA has backed down on its call for the federal government to rescind its ban on the use of the term ‘Allah' by non-Muslims, following a reprimand by acting Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.
In barely 24-hours, MCA has backed down on its call for the federal government to rescind its ban on the use of the term ‘Allah' by non-Muslims, following a reprimand by acting Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.
In a statement today, MCA president Chua Soi Lek (left) said that his party was merely voicing concerns raised during a meeting between the party's presidential council and the Christian Federation of Malaysia last week.
He said the NGO has wished for the matter to be resolved quickly as it has been more than a year since the issue cropped up.
Chua's "clarification" comes a day after MCA central committee member Loh Seng Kok issued a statement, urging Home Minister Hishamuddin Hussein to rescind the ban since the minister had expressed "regret" over the controversy.
Loh had said the move will make Hishammuddin a leader who truly looks after the rights and interest of all Malaysians.
Malaysiakini had reported both MCA and arch-rivals DAP issuing similar statements yesterday.
‘Not standing with DAP'
Muhyiddin (right) appears to have lashed out at MCA over the report, as Bernama quoted him saying, "I don't understand why the DAP and MCA are taking a common stand on such matters."
Chua quickly clarified that MCA was not sharing DAP's stand.
"We are not making the same stand with DAP. We only want the BN government to resolve the issue as soon as possible so that it will not be further exploited by the opposition," he added.
At the same time, Hishamuddin has also retreated from his statement confessing ‘regret' over his ministry issuing the ban and hence precipitating the controversy, saying his words have been taken out of context.
In January, Catholic weekly The Herald won a suit at the High Court which overruled a ban on the use of the term ‘Allah' in its Bahasa Malaysia edition, prompting fiery protests from certain quarters nationwide.
The federal government has since appealed the High Court decision and the matter has been pending since.
In a statement today, MCA president Chua Soi Lek (left) said that his party was merely voicing concerns raised during a meeting between the party's presidential council and the Christian Federation of Malaysia last week.He said the NGO has wished for the matter to be resolved quickly as it has been more than a year since the issue cropped up.
Chua's "clarification" comes a day after MCA central committee member Loh Seng Kok issued a statement, urging Home Minister Hishamuddin Hussein to rescind the ban since the minister had expressed "regret" over the controversy.
Loh had said the move will make Hishammuddin a leader who truly looks after the rights and interest of all Malaysians.
Malaysiakini had reported both MCA and arch-rivals DAP issuing similar statements yesterday.‘Not standing with DAP'
Muhyiddin (right) appears to have lashed out at MCA over the report, as Bernama quoted him saying, "I don't understand why the DAP and MCA are taking a common stand on such matters."
Chua quickly clarified that MCA was not sharing DAP's stand.
"We are not making the same stand with DAP. We only want the BN government to resolve the issue as soon as possible so that it will not be further exploited by the opposition," he added.
At the same time, Hishamuddin has also retreated from his statement confessing ‘regret' over his ministry issuing the ban and hence precipitating the controversy, saying his words have been taken out of context.
In January, Catholic weekly The Herald won a suit at the High Court which overruled a ban on the use of the term ‘Allah' in its Bahasa Malaysia edition, prompting fiery protests from certain quarters nationwide.
The federal government has since appealed the High Court decision and the matter has been pending since.
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