"Accept judgment on 'Allah' case with open hearts"
The minister in charge of Islamic affairs said this in response to the Court of Appeal's decision today which effectively reinstated the Home Ministry ban on the term "Allah" being used in the Catholic publication, The Herald.
“We hope that all parties will accept the court decision with open hearts. We ourselves agree (with it) and accept it,” Jamil Khir told Astro AWANI.
Jamil Khir said, today's decision was part of the judiciary process that also allows for appeals to the apex courts, the Federal Court.
Meanwhile, PKR deputy secretary-general Darell Leiking expressed sadness over the decision, saying the decision did not make sense.
“I don't understand why the judges made such a decision,” said the Christian MP for Penampang in Sabah.
Darell also said this contradicted the 10-point solution that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak signed in 2011, which allowed usage of the term for Christians in Sabah and Sarawak.
"This decision clearly contradicts the Cabinet decision. Many Malaysians use the term and I worry if this is the way we are moving forward... this is not healthy for us," he said.
Meanwhile, Deputy Home Minister Datuk Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said his ministry's appeal over the controversial 2009 High Court decision which 'lifted' the ban, was focused on the situation in Peninsular.
"There are a lot of people who are unable to accept the usage of Allah, especially in the Peninsular, because in Sarawak this is a common thing," said the Sarawakian MP.
"Because the ministry sees things in that angle, and that this word would bring about dissatisfaction amongst Malays and Muslims... so we also look at the security aspect," he said.
Wan Junaidi said it was the government's view that Christians did not lose anything by using the term "Tuhan" (God).
"It can be confusing if the same term is used (by both religions). We learn from history, when the Malays are unsatisfied and confused, we are afraid and do not want that to happen."
Wan Junaidi said all parties should accept the decision and not politicise it. He said the government's 10-point solution did not go against what was decided today.