THE cabinet will present proposals to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on protecting the use of the word “Allah” and strengthening racial and religious unity in the country, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said. 

He said this following the fallout from the federal government’s decision to withdraw its appeal against the court’s verdict in the “Allah” case. 

Putrajaya first filed an appeal over a High Court ruling that allowed non-Muslims to use the word “Allah” and three other words in a religious context on March 12, 2021.  

Two days ago, however, Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution confirmed that Putrajaya had withdrawn the appeal, resulting in major criticism from Muslim groups. 

Anwar said in a statement today that to fully resolve the issue, the cabinet had received the approval of the Agong to present recommendations on the matter.  

“This is to also strengthen the enforcement of policies regarding the word ‘Allah’ to the Council of Rulers and at the same time to strengthen unity and harmony between races and religions in Malaysia,” he said. 

Yesterday, Anwar said the Kuala Lumpur High Court’s ruling in 2021 on a Sarawak woman’s right to use “Allah” by Christians was only applicable to Sarawak. This was disputed by legal experts. 

He clarified the government’s stand today by saying the cabinet was aware that the decision made was administrative and did not change a 2014 Federal Court ruling on the matter. 

“The Cabinet affirms that the government respects, certifies, and adopts state enactments and decrees of His Majesty the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on February 7, 2023, who maintained the existing policy that is in force regarding the usage of the word Allah. 

“The government will always uphold the Federal Constitution, especially Article 3 regarding Islam as the religion of the federation and other religions are allowed to be practiced peacefully.” 

On March 21, 2021, Judge Nor Bee Ariffin said the Home Ministry’s directive in 1986 to ban the use of the word that meant “God” was unlawful and unconstitutional.  

The judge said Sarawak resident Christian Jill Ireland Lawrence Bill had been deprived of her rights to practise her religion. – May 17, 2023.