By Ling Hui and Cornelius Kadir Edison
KUCHING, April 2: Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin is non-committal towards Putrajaya’s appeal against the High Court ruling over the use of ‘Allah’.
He said he preferred not to over comment as the appeal could be sub judice and any later ruling is entirely up to the court.
“I think I can’t comment that much except the thing to say is that the case is in court. The appeal is on, so let’s wait for whatever the result is.
“And I wouldn’t want to express my personal feelings because it could be sub judice but that is important because we know what the court, few weeks ago, has decided.
“So, the attorney-general I think has appealed to that and it will be entirely up to the court to decide,” he told reporters during a press conference after a visit to inspect the progress of the upgrading works at Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) here today.
On March 16, the federal government filed an appeal against the High Court’s decision to allow Christians to use the word “Allah” in preaching and publications.
Prior to that on March 10, the High Court Justice Nor Bee Ariffin ruled that a Home Ministry directive in 1986 banning the use of “Allah”, “Baitullah”, “Kaabah”, and “solat” by non-Muslims was illegal and unconstitutional.
Also present at the press conference were Sarawak Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, Minister for Local Government and Housing Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian and Minister of Works Dato Sri Fadillah Yusof. — DayakDaily
