By IRNA-PTI
Kuala Lumpur : Malaysian government has insisted that non-Islamic publications cannot use the word ‘Allah’, saying that it may arouse “sensitivity and create confusion” among Muslims in the country.
It said three other words ‘Solat’ (ritual prayers by Muslims), ‘Kaabah’ (the direction towards which Muslims offer prayer) and ‘Baitullah’ (house of God) also cannot be used in other religions’ publications.
The government’s statement follows Catholic weekly The Herald’s assertion that it was allowed to continue printing its ‘Bahasa Malaysia’ section with no restriction on the use
of the word “Allah” for God.
However, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Abdullah Mohd Zin, was quoted as saying by ‘Star’ newspaper that the Cabinet has decided that the restriction on the use of the word ‘Allah’ was still enforceable.
“One of the reasons given to uphold the restriction is because that it has long been the practice of this country that the world ‘Allah’ refers to God according to the Muslim faith,” Abdullah said.
He said it was only proper for other religions to use the word “God” and not “Allah” when referring to their God in respective beliefs and added that the use of the word “Allah” shall not be made an issue of public debate that may give the impression as if there is no freedom of religion in the country.
“The use of the word ‘Allah’ by non-Muslims may arouse sensitivity and create confusion among Muslims in the country,” he was quoted as saying.
December 31, the Catholic publication’s editor Father Lawrence Andrew said the weekly was allowed to continue printing its ‘Bahasa Malaysia’ section with no restriction on the use of the word “Allah” for God.
He said a representative from the Internal Security Ministry delivered a letter dated December 28 with the permit to print the newspaper.
According to him, the letter did not place any restrictions whatsoever.
The Herald carries reports in English, Bahasa Malaysia, Tamil and Chinese about the Catholic community. It has a circulation of 12,000.
The ministry had earlier issued directives to the publisher to cease the use of the word ‘Allah’ in the weekly, failing which its permit would either be suspended or revoked.
December 5, the publisher filed a writ of summons in the Kuala Lumpur High Court to seek declarations of use of word ‘Allah’.
When contacted, Abdullah said that the Cabinet in its two meetings had decided that The Herald should not use the word “Allah” in its publications.
“I would also like to remind the public that apart from the word ‘ Allah’, three other words – Solat, Kaabah and Baitullah are also prohibited and cannot be used in other religions’ publications,” he said.