KUCHING, March 16: Twelve Sarawakian MPs and two senators have put their political differences aside to urge Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, the federal government and the people of Malaysia not to appeal against the High Court’s recent verdict allowing the use of ‘Allah’ by non-Muslims.
They are among the 18 MPs and four senators from Sarawak and Sabah who issued a joint statement dated yesterday (March 15) urging for the Kuala Lumpur High Court’s judgment on March 10 to be upheld.
There are two MPs from the Sarawak ruling coalition include Serian MP Datuk Seri Richard Riot Jaem who is Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) deputy president and Baram MP Anyi Ngau, who is from Progressive Democratic Party (PDP).
Puncak Borneo MP Willie Mongin from Parti Pribumi Malaysia Bersatu (Bersatu), independent MP Larry Sng (Julau) and two MPs from Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) Baru Bian (Selangau) and Datuk Masir Kujat also rendered their support.
The remaining the six Sarawakian MPs are Democratic Action Party’s Mordi Bimol (Mas Gading), Dr Kelvin Yii (Bandar Kuching), Chong Chieng Jen (Stampin), Wong Ling Biu (Sarikei), Alice Lau Kiong Yieng (Lanang) and Oscar Ling Chai Yew (Sibu).
From the Senate, Robert Lau from SUPP and Alan Ling Sie Kwong from DAP also signed the statement to signal their stance on the issue.
“We the undersigned Members of Parliament, of both Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara, and State Assemblypersons from Sabah and Sarawak call upon all Malaysians to accept and the Federal Government to withdraw its appeal against the High Court’s ruling on 10 March 2021 that declares the Allah ban since 1986 is unconstitutional.
“It is a blessing that all Malaysians can pray to Allah in mosques, churches and gurdwaras,” said the statement.
The signatories stated their position as follows:
“1. Christians who use “Allah” and other common religious words shared with Muslims are predominantly Borneans and Orang Asli, who speak Bahasa Malaysia as their second or first language, just like Christian Bataks, Dayaks, Ambonese, Timorese in Indonesia who speak Bahasa Indonesia as their second or first language. In Sarawak, Bahasa Iban uses “Allah Taala”, Bahasa Bidayuh uses “Tuhan Alla” while the Lun Bawangs, Lun Dayehs and Kelabits use the term “Tuhan Allah” for God.
2. In Sabah and Sarawak, the popularity of Bahasa Malaysia amongst Christians is the outcome of the National Language Act 1967, the National Language Policy and the National Education Policy which reversed the decline of Bahasa Melayu during the colonial years.
3. Muslims in Sabah and Sarawak are supportive of and never feel threatened by their Christian siblings, cousins, and friends praying to Allah, the one God in all Abrahamic faiths. Borneans genuinely believe that humans are made differently to know and love each other, not to disparage and discriminate against each other, and that presence of diverse religious communities is Allah’s will for He who is almighty could have made all humans in one faith.
4. Muslims and Christians praying to Allah in mosques and churches will not cause apostasy of Muslims. The best evidence — Muslims constitute near or more 90% of population in the Arab countries and Indonesia, despite Muslims and Christians share “Allah” and other religious terms for respectively 1,442 years and 476 years.
5. The 1986 Federal Cabinet’s decision to deny non-Muslims the right to pray to Allah was an oversight caused by political pressure by some insecure Malayans who were both ignorant of Sabah and Sarawak and arrogant that Malayans could decide how Sabahans and Sarawakians, both at home and in the Peninsula, should live their life.
6. These self-centric Malayans refuse to accept that Malaysia is an equal partnership of Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak. The High Court’s decision is merely correcting an injustice suffered by Sabahans, Sarawakians and Orang Asli caused by some Malayans’ insecurity, ignorance and arrogance. It will not cause proselytisation on and apostasy of Muslims, a false fear some Malayans try to monger.
7. The High Court’s decision is a victory for Malaysia which will make our union stronger. It will enable Sabahan, Sarawakian and Orang Asli Christians to pray freely as their Dayak brothers and sisters across the border in Kalimantan do.
8. The High Court’s decision is also a victory for Bahasa Malaysia as national language and all its speakers, and a respect for the speakers of Bahasa Iban, Bidayuh, Lun Bawang, Lun Dayeh and Kelabit, languages of heritage in the land of Borneo.
9. We call upon Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to withdraw the Federal Government’s appeal against the High Court’s decision, so that the 35-year-old polemic and the pain felt by so many Sabahans, Sarawakians and Orang Asli may finally end. It would be a positive legacy for the Prime Minister.
10. We call upon all political parties to not exploit the High Court’s decision for narrow political millage. Let this be a closure for all and a step forwards in national reconciliation so that we meet Allah’s plan that makes us different for us to know and love each other.”
The Kuala Lumpur High Court had on March 10 ruled that the non-Muslim community may use the word “Allah” in their preaching and publications.
The High Court also decided that the community can use the words “Baitullah”, “Kaabah” and “solat” for teaching purposes which the Malaysian government has banned for 35 years.
Christians in Sarawak and Sabah applauded the decision. Their joy however was short-lived as yesterday, the federal government filed an appeal against the High Court’s decision. — DayakDaily
