"Allah" issue: Malay rights groups stoking anti-West Malaysia sentiments

In a report in The Borneo Post, PBS secretary-general Datuk Henrynus Amin said the party found the rhetoric used by these Malay rights groups very provocative and dangerous.

Henrynus said threats made by certain Malays rights group to export their fight to Sabah and Sarawak had provoked widespread anger or fear and inevitably spark anti-West Malaysian sentiments.

He said the people of Sabah and Sarawak, Muslims and non-Muslims, did not share the extreme racial and religious views of these groups in Peninsular Malaysia.

On the same note, he appealed to Christians in Sabah and Sarawak to remain calm since the legal process is still on-going.

Henrynus also appealed to the federal authorities to not allow the overt display of hostility by certain Malay rights groups towards the Christian community.

He said regardless of the court decision, the indigenous Christian community will continue to use the Malay Bibles which include "Kalimah Allah" to refer to their God in their liturgy or daily worship.

"The court decision cannot be easily enforced on the private lives of the people of Sabah and Sarawak," he was quoted as saying.

“Regardless of what the court says or justifies, the people of Sabah and Sarawak view the court decision as an attack, or at best, an affront to the sacred principles of religious freedom.”

"We should remind ourselves that the basis for Sabah's entry to the Federation of Malaysia in 1963 was predicated on the successful negotiation of the 20-point demands which include the guarantees and assurances on freedom of religion," he said.

Meanwhile, PBS deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili reiterated that the Cabinet had provided freedom and concession to Christians in Sabah and Sarawak as stated in the agreed 10-Point Solution in April 2011, which allowed Christian communities in East Malaysia to continue using the Arabic word to refer to their God.

The Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister said, PBS would ensure that freedom of religion as guaranteed to the people by the Federal Constitution would continue to be upheld and protected.