CONFERENCE OF RULERS' DECISION ON 'ALLAH ISSUE' TO BE ADOPTED AS
FINAL POLICY - PM ANWAR
Pix credit: FB Anwar Ibrahim
07/06/2023 07:47 PM
KUALA LUMPUR, June 7 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said that whatever decision made at the Conference of Rulers’ meeting slated to be held in October will be adopted as a final policy for the issue relating to the use of the word ‘Allah’ by non-Muslims in Malaysia.
In a statement issued after his audience with the Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, who is the chairman of the National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs (MKI) today, Anwar said the Sultan had also agreed to bring up the issue in the MKI meeting in August before it is brought up for further discussion in the Conference of Rulers meeting.
During the audience, Anwar said he also briefed the Sultan on the issue concerning the government’s decision in Jill Ireland’s case.
“I have also explained to the Sultan about the federal government's stance in respecting the law in each state and the position of the Malay Rulers as Head of Religion in determining matters related to Islam at the state level, and the role of the Conference of Rulers at the federal level.
“I respect the Sultan’s views, which are in line with the Cabinet’s decision made in May, that the issue concerning the use of the word ‘Allah’ by non-Muslims in Sabah and Sarawak should be scrutinised and clarified to the MKI which has the role of advising the Conference of Rulers,” he said.
Anwar said during the audience, he also reaffirmed the federal government's stance to ratify and adopt the existing policy that the word ‘Allah’ can only be used by Muslims in the peninsula and with restrictions for non-Muslims in Sabah and Sarawak.
-- BERNAMA
'ALLAH' ISSUE TO BE BROUGHT UP IN MKI MEETING IN AUGUST - SULTAN
SHARAFUDDIN
Pix credit: FB Anwar Ibrahim
07/06/2023 06:43 PM
SHAH ALAM, June 7 (Bernama) -- The issue concerning the use of the word ‘Allah’ by non-Muslims in Malaysia will be brought up in the National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs (MKI) in August before it is further discussed at the Conference of Rulers meeting in October.
The Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah said it was in line with MKI’s functions which include advising the Malay Rulers in improving the governance of Islam at the federal level.
The Sultan said the matter was also agreed to by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim who was granted an audience to brief the ruler on the government’s decision to withdraw its appeal in the case of Jill Ireland versus Home Minister and the Malaysian Government at the Court of Appeal recently.
“During the briefing, I, as MKI chairman, have also voiced out my opinion, which was agreed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa
Billah Shah, that the matter should first be brought to the MKI for discussion.
“I believe that MKI’s views are important to be forwarded to the Conference of Rulers in setting the final policy regarding the use of the word ‘Allah’ by the nonMuslims in Malaysia,” he said in a statement here today.
Sultan Sharafuddin said since the matter involves religious sensitivity in Malaysia, the issue of the use of the word Allah by non-Muslims, needs to be resolved immediately by the Malaysian government with full wisdom and responsibility.
At the same time, the Sultan called on all parties not to politicise, raise or debate the use of the word Allah by non-Muslims until the Conference of Rulers makes a final decision on the issue.
This is to ensure that racial harmony in Malaysia remains intact in order to maintain the social and economic stability of this country.
“I also call on all parties to respect the principles of the Federal Constitution which guarantee the rights and powers of the Malay Rulers in determining matters related to the religion of Islam.
“The solution to this issue should be made carefully based on the Federal Constitution which stated that Islam is the religion of the Federation without prejudicing the rights of non-Muslims to practice religions other than Islam in peace,” he said.
-- BERNAMA
