KUALA LUMPUR: Existing laws related to the use of the word "Allah" that are in conflict with the Conference of Rulers' decision will be streamlined, enhanced and amended, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The Prime Minister said that he had referred the matter to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the King had advised him that all decisions must be in line with the decision made by the Conference of Rulers.
Anwar added that a Cabinet decision on Feb 7 had also reaffirmed that the government respects and accepts the Agong’s decree to maintain the existing policies on the use of the word Allah.
"There is a need to enhance it to avoid any contradictions. The King had agreed to the Cabinet papers and this will also be referred to the National Council of Islamic Religious Affairs (MKI), which is chaired by the Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah.
"So inputs will be given to enhance the regulations so that the decision will be final that (the word 'Allah') cannot be used by non-Muslims in the peninsula and it will be allowed with certain conditions in Sabah and Sarawak.
"God-willing, it will be presented during the Conference of Rulers meeting in July," he said in reply to a question from Datuk Idris Ahmad (PN-Bagan Serai) during the Prime Minister's Question Time.
Idris had asked the Prime Minister to explain the government's decision to withdraw the appeal against a High Court decision over the use of the word "Allah" in Christian publications.
On May 15, the Home Ministry and the Government of Malaysia were reported to have withdrawn their appeal against the decision of the Kuala Lumpur High Court which ruled that Christians can use the word "Allah" and three other Arabic words in the publication of their religious material for learning purposes.
The government, Anwar added, will examine all the existing regulations including the 1986 Cabinet decision, Printing Presses and Publications Act 1986, current and previous Home Ministry directives, in order to avoid any contradictions especially with the decision made by the Conference of Rulers.
"So what we are doing now is to enhance it. And this is what we will present to His Majesty.
"We will look at all the old regulations, either to amend or to abolish them.
"The government of the day will continue to fully adhere to the decision made by the Conference of Rulers so there will be no contradictions or any mistakes at all," said Anwar.
Asked to explain the rationale of withdrawing the appeal in court by Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan (PN-Kota Baru), Anwar explained that the Attorney General believed that the appeal was not inline with the decision made by the Conference of Rulers.
"On the advice of the Attorney General, the decision is to streamline all related regulations. Otherwise, if we appeal, the case may surface again because of existing conflicts.
“So, because of that we are putting an end to it by amending all regulations to make it clear and no further cases can be brought to court," said Anwar.
Takiyuddin, in raising his additional question earlier, had cited then deputy prime minister's note in 1986 to the then prime minister, which eventually led to a Home Ministry directive prohibiting the use of four specific words including "Allah" by non-Muslims.
Anwar pointed that he had received the consent of the King for the government to withdraw the appeal.
