Let the legal process resolve 'Allah' issue, says Islamic NGO

Let the legal process resolve 'Allah' issue, says Islamic NGO
By IZATUN SHARI

KUALA LUMPUR: The controversial High Court decision allowing Catholic weekly Herald to use the word “Allah” should be resolved through legal process, said a Muslim non-govermental organisation, Jamaah Islah Malaysia (JIM).

JIM backed the Government’s effort to file a notice of appeal at the Court of Appeal and for a stay of execution of the decision.

Its president Zaid Kamaruddin said the movement urged all parties to respect the due process of law without pressuring any party.

He said the movement also urged all parties to ensure that their response to the court decision did not create trouble among the different faiths in the country.

“The issue of the use of the word “Allah” is very sensitive to the Muslims. Many are offended.

Hopefully, it will not affect the peace and harmony in Malaysia,” he told newsmen at its office here Tuesday.

Zaid was responding the “Allah” issue, which had led to protests from some 13 Muslim NGOs against the decision.

“JIM also would like to urge the Catholics to be careful in executing the decision because the Muslims are sensitive if the word Allah is linked to anything that is improper.

“This issue is much more sensitive than that of the Prophet Muhammad cartoon which was published in a Denmark media.”

He said the High Court decision on Dec 31 had raised religious sentiment and was against the Control and Restriction of the Propagation of non-Islamic Religious Enactment passed into law by 10 states.

Zaid said JIM expressed hope that the issue would be resolved immediately so that it would not lead to polarisation among Malaysians and long term effect.

He said JIM also hoped that Borneo Bible Assembly (Sidang Injil Borneo), which was planning to initiate a similar legal action at the Kuala Lumpur High Court this week would postpone it until the current case was resolved.