PETALING JAYA: All non-Muslims are not permitted to use the word ‘Allah’ in Selangor, and that includes the Sikhs, said Selangor state exco for Islamic affairs, Sallehin Mukhyi, today.
“The Selangor Non-Islamic Religions Enactment 1988 (Control of Propagation Among Muslims) prohibits all non-Muslims from using ‘Allah’ and 34 other Arabic words.
“Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah’s decree last December specifically states that the word ‘Allah’ is exclusive to the Muslims,” said Sallehin.
On DAP national chairman Karpal Singh’s view that Sikhs have used the word ‘Allah’ from the time immemorial, Sallehin said that the law in Selangor prohibits them from doing so.
“I’m not sure how long the Sikhs been using the word but in the Quran, ‘Allah’ originated from the Arabs, so we Muslims accept that Allah cannot be associated with any other word for God,” he said.
Sallehin stressed that in the national context, the first principal is to ‘Believe in God’ (Kepercayaan kepada Tuhan).
“The word that can be changed is Tuhan, not ‘Allah’. Christians and Sikhs can use other words for God but not the Muslims,” he said.
Meanwhile, Malaysian Gurdwara Council president Jagir Singh declined to comment on the matter when contacted.
“This is a sensitive issue. I think I must see Sallehin’s statement first before making any comments,” he said.
Yesterday, Karpal pointed out that the Sikhs were free to use the word ‘Allah’ under Articles 3(1) and 11(1) of the federal constitution which guarantees the freedom of religion.
Karpal issued the statement in response to Penang Mufti Hassan Ahmad’s decision to outlaw the use of 40 Islamic words by non-Muslims in the state, including the word ‘Allah’.
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