Sabah and Sarawak leaders rebuke 'leave Malaysia' statement

Top leaders from Barisan Nasional Sabah and Sarawak have slammed Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (ISMA) president Abdullah Zaik Abd Rahman’s statement that whoever failed to accept the ban of the word Allah in the Catholic weekly The Herald to consider migrating overseas.

Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan said that the statement is a provocation and should not have been uttered.

“These are indeed provocative words and should have never been uttered, especially when our Prime Minister has advocated ‘moderation; as one of the pillars of transformation for a better and united Malaysia in diversity,” Pairin was quoted in The Borneo Post.

On Monday, when asked to comment on the Court of Appeal’s decision, Abdullah Zaik said in a statement that the Christian community should safeguard’s the country’s harmony among race and religion.

He also said that as citizens, they must accept the supremacy of Islam in this country.

"Abandon any efforts that will affect racial harmony as Muslims will oppose any ill-intention from any party.

"They can choose to move to another country if they cannot accept the supremacy of Islam and the royalty that protects the supremacy of the religion,” he said.

To comment further on the statement, Pairin has called for Christians, especially in Sabah and Sarawak, to remain calm and not be swayed by certain rhetoric on the issue.

He also called on them not to be mistaken by the whole issue as the court’s decision only concerns the use of Allah in The Herald.

Pairin also said that it’s unfortunate that the issue was brought to court because it is not a legal issue but it is a religious issue involving philosophical and common sense approach.

“The Federal Government, in the 10 Points Resolutions had agreed that Sabah and Sarawak can use the word ‘Allah’.

“We use it in the proper manner. We should be thankful for other assurances by the government because it is not offset by this (decision),” said the President of Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS).

Meanwhile, Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president Tan Sri Dr. James Masing said that and religious extremists groups upholding the “leave Malaysia” slogan should be dealt with under existing laws.

He calls them “aliens” as they are out of sync with Malaysia’s multiracial and multi-religious society.

“If we are a nation of one ethnic group, we can talk like that. But we are a multiracial country, leaders should not talk like that,” Masing was quoted in The Borneo Post.

The Land Development Minister, however, was not satisfied by the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department that the federal government had decided that the word ‘Allah’ could be used by Sabahan and Sarawakian Christians.

This is because the assurance is for Sabah and Sarawak and not in Semenanjung Malaysia and he said Malaysia will be “one nation with two religious definitions of what is acceptable.”

“However, if we can live with it and it keeps us in peace with each other, so be it. To me, when men’s feeble mind tries to define and interpret God’s wishes, we fall short and that is the beginning of our religious differences and problems,” he said.

Abdullah Zaik’s statement was heavily criticised by the Christian Bumiputeras in Sabah and Sarawak as he was considred rubbing more salt in their wound after the Court of Appeal’s decision on Monday.

The Court of Appeal on Monday overruled the High Court’s decision on the use of the word ‘Allah’ by the Catholic weekly, The Herald.

The decision was made by a three-man panel comprising Justice Mohamed Apandi Ali, Justice Mohd Zawawi Salleh and Justice Abdul Aziz Abdul Rahim following the Home Ministry's and government's appeal against the High Court's earlier decision that use of "Allah" was not exclusive to Muslims.

The court found that the usage of the term "Allah" was not an integral part of the faith and practice of Christianity. Such usage, if allowed, will inevitably cause confusion within the community.