PUTRAJAYA decided to withdraw its appeal against a High Court decision over the use of the word “Allah” because it felt the policies were weak and contradictory, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said.

Anwar said the government withdrew the case so it could strengthen those policies, giving no room for such matters to be brought to court in the future.

“The attorney-general (AG) felt the case was weak because of the policies made by the Home Ministry (in 1986).

“The decision (to withdraw the case) was based on the opinion of the AG and after referring to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, and was to improvise and streamline (the policies).

“If not, the case will arise again because there is a contradiction (to the policies). For that reason, we withdrew (the case) to amend all the ‘weak’ policies so it is clear there is no case that can be brought to the courts (in the future).

“All policies, including the Home Ministry’s regulations, which appear to be weak and have room to be challenged to court, will be cancelled and withdrawn,” the Tambun lawmaker said in parliament today.

He was responding to an additional question by Takiyuddin Hassan (Kota Baru-PN), who asked why the government withdrew the case when the previous administration wanted to appeal the High Court’s ruling to allow Christian publications to use “Allah” and three other Arabic words for educational purposes.

In 2021, the Kuala Lumpur High Court overturned a policy banning Christians from using the word “Allah” to refer to God.

Then High Court judge Nor Bee Ariffin, now a Court of Appeal judge, in her ruling held the 1986 directive was filled with illegality and irrationality, adding that the four words can be used by Christians for teaching purposes as they have been in use for over 400 years.

It was reported the cabinet in 1986 had left it to then deputy prime minister Ghafar Baba to decide which words should be prohibited for Christians. 

Ghafar had apparently decided four words – “Allah”, “Kaabah”, “Baitullah” and “solat” – were permitted on condition that “For Christians” was printed on the cover of books or materials.

The Home Ministry’s December 1986 circular, however, ordered a blanket ban on the four words without any conditions.

On May 15, the Home Ministry and the government withdrew an appeal against the decision of the High Court, which ruled Christians can use the four Arabic words in their religious publications for educational purposes. 

Anwar said the government’s decision to withdraw the appeal against the case was made after consulting the king. 

Anwar said the Yang di-Pertuan Agong had ruled any decision must be in line with the Conference of Rulers’ prohibition of “Allah” from being used by Christians in the peninsula, while giving leeway for those in East Malaysia. 

“The decision by the cabinet on February 7 was to confirm the decision and advice of the Agong, in line with the decision by the Conference of Rulers, that the word ‘Allah’ cannot be used by non-Muslims in the peninsula, while conditional usage is allowed in Sabah and Sarawak,” he said.

To streamline the regulations around the use of the word “Allah”, Anwar said the king had agreed to invite input on cabinet papers. 

Anwar, who is also finance minister, said the matter will be referred to the National Council of Islamic Religious Affairs, which is chaired by Selangor’s Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah.

“God willing, it will be presented during the Conference of Rulers’ meeting in July,” Anwar said in reply to a question from Idris Ahmad (Bagan Serai-PN). – May 23, 2023.