THE Home Ministry is expected to start its dialogue sessions with religious bodies on the “Allah” issue on Monday. 

A ministry spokesperson told The Malaysian Insight that the dialogue with various religious individuals and organisations will be carried out in stages.

“The dialogue will be conducted in two sessions as many parties are involved,” the spokesperson said, adding that so far, 25 Muslim and 15 Christian organisations and individuals have agreed to attend the dialogue. 

The dialogue with Muslim scholars is expected to take place in Putrajaya on Monday while another session with Christian leaders is planned for April 15. 

On March 19, Home Minister Hamzah Zainudin said the ministry will be conducting a dialogue with Muslim and Christian scholars to resolve the dispute over the use of the word “Allah”. 

He said the meeting between the religious bodies is crucial so that the matter can be resolved amicably.

“I will invite Islamic scholars and religious experts as well as those from the Christian faith to sit together so that we all can resolve the issue,” he has said.

“I believe it needs to be settled now so that it will not be a problem in the future.”  

However, the Council of Churches of Malaysia (CCM) has said it was highly inappropriate to have a dialogue with the Home Ministry over the “Allah” issue as the case is now in the Court of Appeal. 

CCM president Archbishop Melter Jiki Tais said the ministry is one of the appellants in the appeal, which the government had filed following a High Court decision to allow Christians to use the word “Allah”.

On March 10, the High Court in Kuala Lumpur ruled that Sarawakian Christian Jill Ireland Lawrence Bill can use the word “Allah” in the course of practising her religion.

Judge Nor Bee Ariffin also said a 1986 Home Ministry directive banning Christians from using the word, which means “God” in Bahasa Melayu, as well as other words was unlawful and unconstitutional.

The decision caused an uproar among peninsula-based Muslim political parties and civil society groups while 65 other groups have urged Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to withdraw the appeal against the decision.

On March 15, Solicitor-General Abdul Razak Musa said Putrajaya has filed an appeal against the High Court ruling. – April 11, 2021.