Selangor sultan shocked at Guan Eng's 'Allah' call

Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah has expressed shock and regret over the statement by DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng that has urged the federal government to allow Malay-language Bibles to use the word ‘Allah’.

This is according to a statement today from the Selangor Islamic Affairs Council (Mais).

Mais secretary Mohd Misri Idris (right) said the sultan has decreed that all non-Muslims in the state are banned from using the word ‘Allah’ as it is a holy word exclusive to Muslims.

According to him, the decree was issued after the sultan convened a special meeting with several members of Mais, the Selangor mufti and top officers of Mais and Selangor Islamic Affairs Department (Jais) on Sunday following Lim’s remark.

The decree is in line with the earlier fatwa (edict) gazetted on Feb 18, 2010.

“His Highness had issued the same decree related to the use of ‘Allah’ three years before when this issue was first raised.

“His Highness felt deep regret because his decree has been taken lightly by certain quarters until the same issue was raised again,” said Mohd Misri.

The sultan has instructed Mais and Jais to take stern action against any Muslim or non-Muslim who still questions or disparages the fatwa issued according to Selangor laws.

Section 9 of the Non-Islamic Religions (Control of Propagation amongst Muslims) Enactment 1988 prohibits the use of ‘Allah’ by non-Muslim in any matter related to their religions.

“The sultan also instructed non-Muslim not to interfere in Islamic affairs to avoid hostility and misunderstanding among races in this country,” said Mohd Misri, adding that the ruler also urged all quarters not to abuse Islam to gain political mileage.

After Lim’s Christmas message, which urged the BN-led federal government to allow Christians to use ‘Allah’ in the Bahasa Malaysia version of the Bible, drew flak from various quarters, DAP later clarified that the statement only referred to the Malay-language Bible in Sabah and Sarawak.

However the clarification failed to quell the controversy.

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