PENAMPANG: The Federal Cabinet has agreed to maintain the status quo, allowing the non-Muslim communities of Sabah and Sarawak to use the word “Allah” in their prayers and printed materials but it must be stamped “For Christians Only”.
Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick said following the decision, the people of Sabah, especially Christians, should no longer be worried as they can use Allah in prayers.
He said the decision was reached at the unity government cabinet meeting two days ago.
“I myself attended the meeting, we
discussed the issue in detail…but in the end the cabinet agreed to maintain the status quo,” he said.
Ewon told reporters after officiating at the Corporate Social Responsibility Program – Yayasan Bank Rakyat School Assistance to all schools in the Penampang Parliamentary constituency, here today.
On May 16, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was quoted as saying that the use of the word ‘Allah’ by Christians in Sarawak in the publication of their religious materials for educational purposes only applies to the state in question, and does not apply to other states.
The Prime Minister was asked to comment on the decision of the Ministry of Home Affairs (KDN) to withdraw its appeal against the High Court decision, which ruled that Christians can use the word ‘Allah’ and three other Arabic words in the publication of their religious materials for learning purposes.
