Sunday March 1, 2009
Mistake in gazette, Christians still can’t use ‘Allah’
KOTA KINABALU: A Feb 16 government gazette lifting a ban on Christian publications to use the word “Allah” will be rescinded.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said a gazette would be issued as early as tomorrow to cancel the earlier gazette.
He told reporters here yesterday that there were mistakes made in the drafting of the Feb 16 gazette which stated that Christian publications could use the word “Allah” provided the words “For Christians” were clearly printed on the front cover.
“The government’s stand on the ban has not changed.
“There is also a judicial review challenging the ban,” Syed Hamid said.
He said the government had no intention of pre-empting any decision of the courts on the judicial review brought by the Malaysian Catholic church publication, the Catholic Herald.
Acknowledging that more care should have been taken, he said since mistakes were made “we will now have to correct them.”
Syed Hamid said a gazette to cancel the Feb 16 gazette is needed to clear any misunderstanding over the matter.
Apart from the word “Allah”, the ban for the Christian publications also covered the words “Kaabah,” “Solat” and “Baitullah”.
The ban on these words are not aimed at preventing other religions from being practised.
It is just that the government wants to avoid any confusion, Syed Hamid added.
Previous report:
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