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KOTA KINABALU: Former Sabah Chief Minister Shafie Apdal has claimed that the federal government of Perikatan Nasional is trying to score political points by appealing against the High Court decision on the word “Allah”.
Shafie, who is president of Warisan, said the call was also a tactic to unite the Muslim community ahead of the next general elections, which could take place at any time before the term of the current Parliament ends in 2023.
“They (the government) orchestrated this … the moment Putrajaya appeals, they want to get the credit, this is how they unite the Muslims,” he said, after a meeting at the party’s headquarters here today.
“They will use this with the month of Ramadan approaching and (later) in election campaigns. After Ramadan is over, anything can happen.
“This is not a new tactic, I can read your move.”
Shafie, whose Warisan party had campaigned vigorously using its “Unity” theme in state elections last year, said he was always consistent that the word “Allah” should not be unique to a certain group.
“What I’m saying is managing the use of the word. If there are tendencies to abuse or confuse (using the word), then handle it.
“But do not restrict it because God is this alam (universal),” he said.
Kuala Lumpur High Court Judge Nor Bee Ariffin earlier this month, allowing a judicial review by a Christian from Sarawak, said that an Interior Ministry directive from December 5, 1986 prohibiting the use of certain words by non-Muslims was illegal and unconstitutional, adding that it was wrongly issued because it went beyond the objective of the Printing and Publications Act 1984.
The government has already filed its appeal against the High Court ruling that the 1986 Interior Ministry directive to prohibit the use of the words “Allah”, “Baitullah”, “Solat” and “Kaabah” by non-Muslims it was illegal and unconstitutional.
