Perkasa, the Malay right-wing group, has urged the institution of the Malay rulers to act in accordance with the principles of the law on the issue of the use of the word ‘Allah’ in the Malay version of the Bible.   

Its president, Ibrahim Ali, said it was only ideal that the institution of the Malay rulers take action in the matter to preserve the sanctity of Islam.

He spoke at a "Jom Tolak Pakatan" (Let's Reject Pakatan) ceramah (talk) in Taman Berkat, Meru, last night. Several other NGOs such as Jalur Tiga (Jati), Nambikai and Pertubuhan Jaringan Cina Malaysia also took part.

In his Christmas Day message last month, Penang Chief Minister and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng had proposed that the federal government allow the use of the word ‘Allah’ in the Malay version of the Bible.

The Sultan of Selangor, through Selangor Islamic Affairs Council (Mais) secretary Mohd Misri Idris, issued a statement on Tuesday saying that the word ‘Allah’ was a holy word for Muslims and could not be used by any other religion.
   
Hasan, in his speech at the ceramah, said the use of the word ‘Allah’ was raised again by Lim to garner the support of Christians in Sabah and Sarawak to boost the opposition pact's chances of capturing Putrajaya.  

"What is saddening is that the top leaders of PAS are willing to accede to the wishes of the DAP in the use of the word 'Allah' by people of other religions," he said.

In Kuala Lumpur, Umno Veterans Club secretary Mustapha Yaakub urged the opposition political parties to stop abusing the word ‘Allah’ to garner electoral votes. 

He said it was most saddening that PAS, which regarded itself as an Islamic party, had failed to advise its partner, DAP, from continuing to harp on the issue for political gain.

"Umno veterans back the Sultan of Selangor (Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah) who has warned that the word 'Allah' should not be used in the Malay version of the Bible and should not be arbitrarily abused.

"We hope the warning would serve as a guide for anyone who tries to insult the holy word. We are happy that the sultan had stated his stand as the head of the Islamic religion in Selangor," he said when contacted by Bernama.

Mustapha said the Umno Veterans Club urged the sultan to bring up the issue to the Conference of Rulers to ensure that the word ‘Allah’ was not abused.

- Bernama