FMT:
PN MPs to seek audience with Malay rulers over ‘Allah’ issue
This comes after a private member’s bill submitted by Jasin MP Zulkifli Ismail was rejected by the Dewan Rakyat Speaker.
Jasin MP Zulkifli Ismail speaking at the press conference. Others are (from left) Pendang MP Awang Hashim, Pasir Puteh MP Nik Muhammad Zawawi and opposition leader Hamzah Zainudin.
KUALA LUMPUR: Perikatan Nasional MPs will seek an audience with the Malay rulers following the rejection of a private member’s bill submitted to the Dewan Rakyat seeking to debate the use of the term “Allah”.
At a press conference held in Parliament today, Zulkifli Ismail (PN-Jasin) said he was disappointed by the Speaker’s decision to reject the bill.
“I hope my fellow PN MPs and I will be granted an audience with the Conference of Rules and the Sultan of Selangor to explain our bill,” said Zulkifli.
Opposition leader Hamzah Zainudin said the PN MPs intend to propose that the Interpretation Acts of 1948 and 1967 be amended to define the term “Allah” to prevent its misuse.
“Everyone should be allowed to use the term, but it must be done correctly. What we fear is that the term may be misinterpreted by certain parties, which will lead to confusion,” he said.
Hamzah said the entire country would benefit if a proper interpretation was given to it by written law.
On June 2, Sinar Harian reported that Zulkifli had submitted the private member’s bill to propose to the Dewan Rakyat that the proper use of the term be debated on the floor of the lower house.
Zulkifli said he was notified that the bill had been rejected in a written reply which he received earlier today.
In her response, Deputy Speaker Alice Lau told Zulkifli that he was entitled to appeal the decision to reject the bill under Standing Order 43.
Zulkifli said he had proposed the amendment to the law to safeguard the faith of Muslims in the country.
In a landmark decision handed down in March 2021, the High Court ruled that Sarawakian Jill Ireland had the right to use the term “Allah” in the course of her religious education in Malay and her native Melanau language.
Then High Court judge Nor Bee Ariffin said a Dec 5, 1986 directive issued by the home ministry prohibiting the use of the words “Allah”, “Baitullah”, “Solat” and “Kaabah” by non-Muslims was illegal.
The government decided to abandon its appeal against the High Court ruling on April 18.
On May 17, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim was reported to have said the Cabinet would submit its recommendations on the “Allah” issue to the Conference of Rulers.
KUALA LUMPUR: Perikatan Nasional MPs will seek an audience with the Malay rulers following the rejection of a private member’s bill submitted to the Dewan Rakyat seeking to debate the use of the term “Allah”.
At a press conference held in Parliament today, Zulkifli Ismail (PN-Jasin) said he was disappointed by the Speaker’s decision to reject the bill.
“I hope my fellow PN MPs and I will be granted an audience with the Conference of Rules and the Sultan of Selangor to explain our bill,” said Zulkifli.
Opposition leader Hamzah Zainudin said the PN MPs intend to propose that the Interpretation Acts of 1948 and 1967 be amended to define the term “Allah” to prevent its misuse.
“Everyone should be allowed to use the term, but it must be done correctly. What we fear is that the term may be misinterpreted by certain parties, which will lead to confusion,” he said.
Hamzah said the entire country would benefit if a proper interpretation was given to it by written law.
On June 2, Sinar Harian reported that Zulkifli had submitted the private member’s bill to propose to the Dewan Rakyat that the proper use of the term be debated on the floor of the lower house.
Zulkifli said he was notified that the bill had been rejected in a written reply which he received earlier today.
In her response, Deputy Speaker Alice Lau told Zulkifli that he was entitled to appeal the decision to reject the bill under Standing Order 43.
Zulkifli said he had proposed the amendment to the law to safeguard the faith of Muslims in the country.
In a landmark decision handed down in March 2021, the High Court ruled that Sarawakian Jill Ireland had the right to use the term “Allah” in the course of her religious education in Malay and her native Melanau language.
Then High Court judge Nor Bee Ariffin said a Dec 5, 1986 directive issued by the home ministry prohibiting the use of the words “Allah”, “Baitullah”, “Solat” and “Kaabah” by non-Muslims was illegal.
The government decided to abandon its appeal against the High Court ruling on April 18.
On May 17, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim was reported to have said the Cabinet would submit its recommendations on the “Allah” issue to the Conference of Rulers.
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