Non-Muslims can use the term "Allah" - Guan Eng

Penang Chief Minister, Lim Guan Eng maintained his stand that non-Muslims are allowed to use the term "Allah" as the Penang Islamic Administration Enactment 2004 cannot be imposed on them.

Lim said his stance is in accordance with the human rights and morale.

In a media statement made Sunday, he denied the allegation made by Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi who had claimed that the DAP secretary-general was trying to meddle with the state's Islamic affairs.

Instead, he asked Ahmad Zahid to post his queries to MCA leaders for challenging the Pakatan Rakyat state goverment to abolish the state's Islamic Administrative Enactment 2004 to allow other religions to use the word "Allah".

Stressing on the point that the enactment was only applicable to Muslims, Lim said whatever fatwa issued cannot be enforced against non-Muslims.

The Bagan MP also said non-Muslims and some Muslims generally did not agree with the government's ban on non-Muslims in using the word "Allah" but they still respected the Federal Court's decision in denying the appeal by the weekly Herald to refer to God in its Bahasa Malaysia section.

The controversy over the "Allah" issue erupted again when Lim stated that non-Muslims in Penang can use the word "Allah".

Sebsequently, Bukit Mertajam UMNO Youth Chief, Ifan Zaimi Mad Taha filed a police report against the CM at the Seberang Perai Tengah district police headquarters on Saturday.

In his reaction, Penang Mufti Datuk Dr Wan Salim Wan Mohd Noor stressed that the word "Allah" should not be raised again as the state Fatwa Council has gazetted the word, along with 40 other terms related to Islam, to be exclusive to Muslims.

Wan Salim said, once gazetted by the Fatwa Council, the matter is not only subject to Muslims but to non-Muslims as well since the appointment of the Penang Mufti was under the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's consent.

When commenting on the matter in Perak yesterday, Ahmad Zahid stated that a Chief Minister in any state does not have the jurisdiction to issue any statement or determine the usage of the word "Allah".

He said the matter is under the jurisdiction of the Yang di-Pertua Negeri (head of state) as the head of Islam and Malay Customs in their respective states.