Selangor abides by sultan's 'Allah' decree
The Selangor government will abide by Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah’s decree that all non-Muslims in the state are banned from using the word 'Allah' for it is a holy word, exclusive to Muslims.
UPDATED The Selangor government will abide by Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah's decree that all non-Muslims in the state are banned from using the word 'Allah' as it is a holy word, exclusive to Muslims.
Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said the use of the word 'Allah' was in accordance with a fatwa (edict) issued and gazetted by the state government on Feb 18, 2010.
"According to the gazette, the pronouncement of the word 'Allah' is a holy word dedicated to Islam and Muslims, and it should not be used or equated with other religions.
"Therefore, it is obligatory for Muslims to protect the word in the way they know best and thwart any element of humiliation or abuse," he told reporters in Shah Alam today.
He said that the state government accepts that religion and its related laws is under the purview of the sultan as it is stipulated in the state legislation.
Abdul Khalid, however, declined to comment on Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim's (right) endorsement that non-Muslims be allowed to use the word and asserted that the state government's stand on the matter is in accordance to what had been gazetted.
"In Selangor, the word 'Allah' is enshrined in the Selangor State Enactment to ensure that there is no element of humiliation and abuse occurring and we abide by what has been gazetted," he said.
Abdul Khalid stressed that the use of 'Allah' also involves state government gazette Volume 63 No 4 which states that its use cannot involve elements of humiliation or abuse.
Citing the example of state anthem, he pointed out that the use of 'Allah' in the anthem sang by non-Muslims is acceptable as it does not humiliate or abuse the word.
"Only when there is element of humiliation and abuse (then it is banned), so it is not wrong (for non-Muslims to sing the anthem)," he said.
The sultan's decree followed a special Selangor Islamic Affairs Council (Mais) meeting convened on Sunday to discuss Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng's Christmas message, where he had urged the government to allow Christians to use 'Allah' in the Bahasa Malaysia version of the Bible.
The sultan's decree was made public through a statement from the Selangor Islamic Affairs Council (Mais).
Mais secretary Mohd Misri Idris said the sultan had also instructed Mais and the Selangor Islamic Affairs Department (Jais) to take stern action against any Muslim or non-Muslim who questioned or belittled the edict issued and gazetted according to Selangor laws.
