Press Statements & Articles

SCC Press Statement on News Report Putrajaya Concedes on Allah for Sabah & Sarawak

SABAH COUNCIL OF CHURCHES
(Majlis Gereja-gereja Sabah)

P.O.Box No.444, 88856 Likas Post Office, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.

SABAH COUNCIL OF CHURCHES PRESS STATEMENT ON NEWS REPORT PUTRAJAYA CONCEDES ON ALLAH FOR SABAH & SARAWAK

The Sabah Council of Churches (SCC) is unable to accept the concession proposed by the government that Christians in the two Malaysian Borneo states can continue to use the word 'Allah' for God in Malay print while at the same time prohibiting Christians in Peninsular Malaysia from using the word 'Allah' for God.

The view as expressed by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz in an exclusive interview with five journalists from the Borneo Post, Utusan Borneo and the Oriental Daily is illogical, inconsistent and untenable for East Malaysian Christians especially those residing in Peninsular Malaysia. The intended concession also goes against the spirit and intent of Prime Minister Dato's Seri Najib Tun Razak's 1 Malaysia concept of forging unity and harmony within all races and religion by mutual respect and acceptance.

The intended concession also impinges on the rights of the entire Christian community in Malaysia as it dichotomies and segregate the rights of Christians to worship, profess and practice one's faith on the basis of geographical location. To carry out such an intended concession is bordering on absurdity as there are many East Malaysian Christians from both Sabah and Sarawak residing in the Peninsula. This will only cause further strive and confusion amidst the Christians but also for the Muslim majority population in Malaysia. The intended concession is also in contravention of the provisions of the Federal Constitution for freedom of religion and is therefore illegitimate.

The SCC therefore calls the government to review such a move as we envisage it does not bring about any positive benefits and effects for the welfare and well being of the nation in the long term. We repeat the call of the Christian community in Malaysia for government to allow the use of the word Allah for all Christians in Malaysia irrespective of geographical location, language or cultural background.

 

Rev. Jerry Dusing
President,
Sabah Council of Churches

Dated: 16 January 2010



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