THE ban on non-Muslims from using the word “Allah” to describe God in Malaysia remains in Selangor, Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari said today.

He said the state’s position is not affected by Putrajaya’s decision to withdraw its appeal to the court to prevent non-Muslims from using the word “Allah”.

The federal government first filed an appeal over a High Court ruling that allows non-Muslims to use the word “Allah” and three other words in the religious context on March 12, 2021. But it had since then withdrawn that appeal.

Amirudin said in a statement today that Selangor will continue to adhere to the proclamation by Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris on March 23, 2021 that the word “Allah” and other related words will be banned from being used by the non-Muslims in the state.

This is also in accordance with a Federal Court ruling in 2014 and a state fatwa dated February 18, 2010, he said.

The Attorney-General’s Chambers, representing the Home Ministry, notified the Court of Appeal on April 18 that it did not wish to pursue the appeal.

Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail confirmed this to the media two days ago.

On March 10, 2021, the High Court, in a landmark decision, ruled that Jill Ireland could use the word “Allah” for the purpose of religious education in Malay and her native Melanau language in Sarawak.

Then High Court judge Nor Bee Ariffin said a December 5, 1986 Home Ministry directive to prohibit the use of the words “Allah”, “Baitullah”, “Solat” and “Kaabah” by non-Muslims was illegal.

Putrajaya’s decision to withdraw the appeal saw immediate condemnation from various Muslim groups.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim tried to pacify the people by saying the ban on “Allah” was only limited to Sarawak where Jill is from. This was rebutted by legal experts.

However, today, he said the cabinet decided that the ban remained despite the withdrawal of the appeal of the case. – May 17, 2023.