PUTRAJAYA would earn a lot of goodwill among voters ahead of the Sarawak polls if it withdrew its appeal in the case of Christian usage of the word “Allah”, the Upko president said.

Wilfred Madius Tangau said by ordering the attorney-general to withdraw the appeal against the court ruling in favour of the Christians, Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob would be showing his commitment to enforcing the terms of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).

“Ismail Sabri can make Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) stand proud in the upcoming state elections. 

“And as his government needs Sarawak and Sabah, he can persuade Malayan hardliners to find civil and reasonable ways to address the Malayan Malay-Muslims’ cultural shock,” the Tuaran MP said in a statement today.

He said Malay-Muslims on the peninsula felt threatened by Christians praying to Allah because they had not lived in Sabah, Sarawak, Indonesia, and the Arab countries. 

“Christians who use ‘Allah’ and other common religious words shared with Muslims are predominantly Bornean and Orang Asli, who speak Bahasa Malaysia as their second or first language. 

“In Sarawak, Bahasa Iban uses ‘Allah Taala’ while Bahasa Bidayuh uses ‘Tuhan Alla’ for God,” Madius said. 

He asked all parties in Borneo, whether local or chapters of national parties, to rally to the call.  

“Voters in Sarawak should make this happen by making clear to all candidates that they want closure.

“Ismail Sabri now has the golden opportunity to right the wrong left uncorrected for 35 years by four prime ministers: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (twice), Tun Abdullah Badawi, Najib Razak, and Muhyiddin Yassin.”

In 1986, the Mahathir administration issued a directive barring the use of the term “Allah” by non-Muslims on the grounds it was to preserve public order and prevent misunderstanding between Muslims and Christians.

Under the Muhyiddin administration, the government appealed against the Kuala Lumpur High Court’s declaration that the ban on the use of the word “Allah” by non-Muslims to be unconstitutional. 

“Sadly, the bigots in the Muhyiddin government insisted on prolonging the pain felt by Borneo Christians and shared by their non-Christian families and friends, including Muslims,” said Madius. 

He reminded Ismail of the Memorial Oath Stone, established on August 31, 1964, in Keningau, in accordance with the constitution. 

The monument outlines a social contract for freedom of religion in Sabah; the Sabah government’s authority over land in the state; respect and preservation of the state’s native customs; and the native people’s loyalty to the government of Malaysia.

“Let’s stop the Bornean Christians’ emotional bleeding and heal Malaysia’s wounds.

“Insha Allah, may all be legally free to pray to Allah on December 18, 2021 if not before.” – December 5, 2021.