ISSUE OF USING 'ALLAH' IN NON-MUSLIM PUBLICATIONS MUST BE HANDLED WISELY - SHAHRIZAT

Bernama - Saturday, January 2

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KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 1 (Bernama) -- The issue of non-Muslims using the word 'Allah' must be handled with utmost care by all parties involved said Minister of Family, Women and Community Development, Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil.

"Actually, non-Muslims in the country accept the fact that the word 'Allah' belongs to Muslims. I am concerned that the issue can 'explode' if not handled wisely and with utmost care.

"In a country like Malaysia, culture, tradition, convention and ethics, apart from the law, play a critical role in ensuring harmony among the races," she said in a statement here today.

Shahrizat who is also the Umno Wanita Chief said the wing would always monitor the situation of the case and would wait for the appeal.

Yesterday, the High Court ruled that the Catholic weekly, The Herald, can use the word 'Allah' in its articles to propagate Christianity among its followers.

Judge Datuk Lau Bee Lian had ruled that usage of the word was constitutional as long as the periodical was confined to educate the followers of the Christian faith.

-- BERNAMA