PAS spiritual leader Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat has called on all quarters to stop the polemic over the word 'Allah' for it was considered closed after the party's Ulama Syura Council ruled that non-Muslims were prohibited from using it.

NONEHe said everyone should abide by the decision of the Syura Council which he regarded as on par with the position of muftis who were members of the National Fatwa Committee of the National Council for the Malaysian Islamic Affairs.

"The Ulama Syura Council is made up of Islamic clerics and scholars.

"Alhamdulillah, in PAS, we are guided by them. Their knowledge are on par with that of the muftis in the country," he told reporters after handing over letters of appointment to 730 mukim/village penghulu and 59 community leaders in Kota Baharu today.

The controversy erupted after DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, in his Christmas message, urged the federal government to allow Christians to use 'Allah' in the Bahasa Malaysia version of the Bible.

Nik Aziz, who is also Kelantan menteri besar, and PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu made an about-turn in their stand yesterday, after initially agreeing to the use of the word in the Bahasa Malaysia translation of the Bible, following the Syura Council's ruling.

In its decision on Sunday, the PAS Ulama Syura Council said the Arabic word cannot be translated into or translated from other languages for it is a specific word used to refer the Muslims' God.

Nik Abdul Aziz said he agreed with Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Jamil Khir Baharom that the polemic should be stopped.

Jamil Khir, yesterday, called on all parties to abide by the muzakarah (ruling) of the National Fatwa Committee of the National Council for the Malaysian Islamic Affairs over the use of the word.

- Bernama

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