PAKATAN Harapan (PH) had wanted to settle the “Allah” issue out of court but its attempts were thwarted by Muhyiddin Yassin, who was then the Home Minister, Selangau MP Baru Bian said today.

“The then Minister of Home Affairs was not in favour of an out-of-court settlement and wanted the court to decide, for reasons best known to himself.

“Now that the court has made a ruling, he should advise the rakyat to respect the decision,” Baru, who was works minister then, said in a statement.

The former PKR MP said he and several other PH ministers had made the effort to settle the “Allah” issue out of court with various proposals, including amendments to the Home Ministry’s 1986 order banning the use of the word and other religious words by non-Muslims.

These PH ministers had formed a special committee. Besides Baru and Muhyiddin, the others were former Minister of International Trade and Industry Darell Leiking, the late law minister VK Liew and Minister of Religious Affairs Mujahid Yusof Rawa.

Their efforts were focused on Sarawakian Bumiputera Christian Jill Ireland’s suit, in which she sought an administrative resolution under Article 11 and 8 of the constitution, which guarantees her a right to profess and practice her religion and equality.

She also wanted the court to declare the Home Ministry’s December 1986 circular to ban the word “Allah” in Christian publications as unconstitutional and unlawful.

Among the efforts to settle the matter out of court, the special committee at a meeting in November 2019 proposed that future publications of the Bible and Christian literature in Bahasa Malaysia would carry a “cross sign” on top of the word “Allah” to differentiate the Christian “Allah” from the Muslim “Allah”, Baru said.

The proposals were based on the 2010 Ten Point Solution, which acknowledged the different circumstances in the Borneo states and the Malayan states.

Baru said he then briefed the cabinet on this. Pending the cabinet decision, he said it was suggested that a moratorium be enforced on the 1986 directive and for Jill to withdraw her suit in the High Court.

However, before the cabinet could come to any resolution, the PH government collapsed in February 2020, taking the matter out of their hands.

“I am aware and the Church is very aware that this matter is a sensitive issue in Malaysia and that is why we made efforts to resolve it administratively.

“I hope we can stand together on a bi-partisan foundation to defend the rights of all Malaysian citizens notwithstanding their creed, race and background as per our oath of office as the elected representatives of our constituents,” he said.

Baru added that he was revealing PH’s efforts to settle the issue in answer to claims by Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) backbenchers that the PH government did not find a solution to the matter.

Jill’s case was filed in 2008 following the seizure of eight CDs containing the word “Allah” on her return from Indonesia.

Her case was adjourned 12 times to facilitate an out-of-court settlement on the use of the word “Allah” for Sabah and Sarawak folk and in publication materials. The delivery of the verdict in her case was postponed 14 times.

Last week, the Kuala Lumpur High Court in a landmark decision ruled that she can use the word “Allah” to practise her religion.

The Home Ministry is appealing the court’s decision.

Baru quit PKR and PH in February last year as part of the “Sheraton Move” that saw the PH government collapse, but he did not join Muhyiddin’s new coalition. He is now with a state-based opposition party, Parti Sarawak Bersatu. – March 18, 2021.