Cabinet’s political solution of having two sets of laws for the Christians will further make Malaysia the brunt of jokes in the international media

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Tan Sri Joseph Kurup said yesterday that the Cabinet has decided that there will be no restrictions on Christians in Sabah and Sarawak to use the word Allah in their worship and in the Bahasa Malaysia bibles.

This political solution of having two sets of laws for the Christians is ridiculous and unacceptable.

The Court of Appeal ‘s decision to ban the use of Allah has caused Malaysian’s image as a moderate nation to suffer, this new political solution will further make Malaysia the brunt of joke in the international media.

Is the Cabinet not aware that many churches in West Malaysia conduct their service in Bahasa Malaysia where the word Allah is used in the hymns and bibles?

How is it possible that Jospeh Kurup is not aware that the Church services in West Malaysia are attended by Christians who are orang Asli, Sarawakians, Sabahans and even some Indonesians?

What does the government expect these churches to do?

The government is no doubt trying to salvage the damage done by the Court’s ruling. But the Cabinet ‘solution is no solution and it is clearly a political strategy to retain its political support in its two “safe deposit” states.

What the government leaders ought to have done earlier was not to appeal the 2009 High Court decision. It ought to have realized that the word Allah is an integral part of Christian faith and practice.

The Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib cannot to continue to maintain his “elegant silence” on the issue.

Is Najib aware that the Court of Appeal decision can have implications on the Sikh community as the Sikh scriptures uses the word Allah 37 times?

DAP stands firm with our stand that Christians should be allowed to use the word Allah and yesterday Opposition leader Datuk Seri Annuar Ibrahim has reiterated Pakatan Rakyat’s stand that non Muslims can refer to God as Allah.

The Catholic Church will appeal against the Court of Appeal decision. The Government made the mistake of appealing against the 2009 High Court decision. It must not make mistake again.

The Cabinet must make a commitment and decision not to contest the Church appeal at the Federal Court.