Pakatan Rakyat supports non-Muslims over the use of Allah

BY ELIZABETH ZACHARIAH
OCTOBER 17, 2013

Pakatan Rakyat (PR) maintained its stand today that non-Muslims can refer to God as Allah, despite the Court of Appeal’s Monday ruling that banned the Catholic weekly, Herald, from using the word.

"We remain consistent with what we said earlier," said opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (pic) at a press conference at the PKR headquarters in Tropicana today. Also present were DAP’s Lim Kit Siang and Datuk Mustafa Ali from PAS.

The opposition pact had in January this year said they supported the non-Muslims' use of the word Allah in their publications and worship.

"We ask everyone to remain calm while waiting for the judiciary process to continue and the appeal to happen," Anwar said.

Anwar had previously said that Allah can be used by anyone as long as it was used in a proper manner and with good intentions.

PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang had also maintained that there was nothing wrong with non-Muslims using the term in their faiths provided it was not misused or misinterpreted.

On Monday, a three-man panel of the Court of Appeal reversed a High Court ruling allowing Catholic weekly Herald to use the word Allah. It reasoned that the word was not an integral part of the Christian faith and practice.

Anwar criticised Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's silence on the issue, noting that it reflected on his "poor" style of leadership.

“The PM never seems to be around for this issue so I think it reflects on poor leadership in this country. The country is like running on auto-pilot," he said.

Anwar also pointed out that there was no need for those who supported the Court of Appeal's decision to condemn those with deferring views.

"The general consensus is for calm and discourse on the subject and not curse those who may have different views with us," he said, referring to the statement by the former mufti of Johor, Datuk Noh Gadut, who warned that Muslims who questioned the Allah ban could be regarded as infidels.

PAS secretary-general Mustafa said he hoped this issue will not be used by Umno in the Sungai Limau by-election.

"I think Umno will use it to campaign but it is a sensitive issue that will cause a lot of confusion," he said. – October 17, 2013.

Source: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/pakatan-supports-non-muslims-over-the-use-of-allah

安華：民聯若執政注新氣象，林吉祥哈迪或任副揆

 2013-02-27 19:18

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  安華（左）接受星洲日報高級記者余秘葉專訪時堅稱，無論民聯在下屆大選贏或輸，國家都不會陷入動蕩不安局面。（圖：星洲日報）

（雪蘭莪‧八打靈再也27日訊）國會反對黨領袖拿督斯里安華不排除一旦民聯執政中央，新政府將出現兩名副首相，人選是行動黨國會領袖林吉祥和伊斯蘭黨主席拿督斯里哈迪阿旺，為新政府注入全新氣象。

他說，根據法律，我國並無任何條文阻止同時有兩名副首相，我們會尊重人民的期望，以及根據國家民主程序行事。

民聯三黨早已議決，一旦民聯執政中央，安華將是內定首相人選。

然而，安華在接受星洲日報專訪時坦言，民聯最高領袖會議至今未曾討論過副首相的課題，這顯示民聯領袖並不在乎權職，反之更關注民聯的議程和社會課題。

早前，安華曾聲稱若他擔任首相，林吉祥將是副首相人選，但後來招惹巫統的炮轟，非議安華出賣馬來人的利益。

另一方面，安華對他擔任教育部長期間曾做出傷害華社的事表示遺憾，但他辯稱這是巫統的政策，他身為巫統和國陣領袖別無選擇。

他表示知道華社當時不喜歡他，因為他把不諳華文的教師送到華小擔任高職。

“但是，當時的馬華和民政部長不曾在內閣會議上內反映華社的不滿；馬華和民政的部長是在近幾年才挑起這項課題。

他說，在他之後的教育部長是阿都拉和納吉，兩人也是貫徹巫統的教育政策，為何馬華總會長蔡細歷不去責怪納吉？

所有學校享制度化撥款

針對有關他在擔任教育部長期間不曾批准興建華小的指責，安華反駁說，他確實曾發出興建華小的批文，並聲稱有記錄為證。

安華強調，民聯的崛起正是為了改變巫統的政策，民聯會一視同仁對待各源流學校，包括獨中，同時廢除現有的政府全津貼和半津貼類型的學校，所有學校都將享有制度化的政府撥款。

“我們為何要改變？因為國家已經成熟、民智已開、人民的民主意識大大提高，以及馬來人增加了自信心，我們需要承認不對的地方，然後加以糾正。＂

安華重申，民聯的橙皮書已清楚寫明承認獨中和統考文憑，但前提是獨中生必須掌握好國語。

“我認為開辦甚麼學校都無所謂，最重要是掌握好馬來文。＂

可贏逾112國席執政中央
有信心奪回霹

安華認為，民聯將能從222個國會議席中，贏取超過112席，以微小的多數議席拿下中央政權。

他指出，民聯有信心捍衛雪州、檳城、吉蘭丹以及吉打州政權，以及重奪霹靂州政權。民聯不僅可以奪回霹靂州政權，而且可以贏得更多國州議席，特別是華裔選民居多的選區。

“雖然霹靂州民聯曾有3名議員跳槽，但這不會影響選民的情緒，反而會加強選民對民聯的支持。＂

他說，民聯不需要拿下大部份的州政權，只要保住5個州政權，包括霹靂州，在其它州屬能增加4至6個國席，便有機會執政中央。

在目前的222國會議席當中，國陣擁有137席，民聯82席，其餘3席屬獨立人士。

安華指出，從308大選至今反風狂吹，未曾平息過，從人民積極走上街頭抗議和民聯舉辦的政治講座與籌款晚宴的出席人潮，可見一斑。

他指出，隨著公民社會及非政府組織對中央政府和彭亨州政府處理萊納斯稀土廠與反公害等課題感到失望，相信這股反對浪潮將有助於民聯在彭亨州的一些選區有所斬獲。

柔佛政治版圖稍有改變

他認為，雖然柔佛州是巫統與馬華的傳統強區，但據他觀察，柔佛的政治版圖已稍微改變，尤其是西部地區如峇株巴轄、居鑾和麻坡的馬來選民已有轉向反對黨的跡象，所以民聯在柔佛州的前景是樂觀的。

“柔佛東部地區如豐盛港、哥打丁宜和邊佳蘭的馬來選民比較傾向國陣，但隨著邊佳蘭爆發石化工程事件，這對民聯有利。

不過，安華坦承，雖然馬來選民對民聯的支持率明顯上升，但是鄉區的馬來票依然是民聯較弱的一環。

他指出，鄉區較年長的馬來選民依然比較保守和缺乏資訊，加上國陣在鄉區投入很多資源和展開污蔑民聯的運動和政治宣傳，因此，民聯必須在鄉區加強宣傳。

有信心沙砂成績取得突破

另一方面，根據安華分析，民聯有信心能在沙砂兩州取得突破性成績，尤其是在華裔選民居多的選區。

他解釋，民聯在砂拉越州選時，除了在華人選區取得標青成績外，甚至在偏遠的伊班人選區，也獲得不少選票，所以不能排除下屆大選民聯可在這些偏僻地區獲得支持。

至於沙巴州，安華相信，沙巴州人民應可透過“沙巴非法移民成為公民事件＂看清巫統為了鞏固政權，寧願權犧牲人民利益的真相。

安華表示，除了人民對國陣施政感到失望外，民聯無論在組織能力和其他方面都已逐漸壯大，也是選民要求改變的因素。

他批評巫統領袖依然傲慢及自大，漠視人民要求乾淨、公平和公正的選舉，以及反公害的訴求，甚至沒有針對地毯商迪巴的指控採取行動。

以優勢勝算為考量
原任國州議員或被撤換

在議席分配方面，安華重申，民聯的議席談判原則是，勝出的選區加上原任議員表現不錯的將由原來的政黨上陣，而輸掉的選區則可以討論交換。

他透露，基於選民的要求已提高，民聯需要檢討候選人的素質，因此會有一些在上屆大選勝出的候選人被撤換，或被調派到其它選區上陣，一切以個人的優勢及勝算為考量。

“原任國、州議員不一定會獲得保留，一些可能會被撤換。撤換的原因包括服務表現欠佳，或者讓更出色的候選人取代。現在的選民要求高了，特別是城市選民已比過去成熟，他們希望會有更高素質的人民代議士，以便能夠提供更好的服務。＂

不過，他拒絕透露有多少名候選人將被撤換，只表示在國會解散後，自有分曉。

詢及坊間頻傳現任雪州格拉那再也區國會議員羅國本可能會落馬一事，安華笑稱這只是謠言。

此外，安華透露，下屆大選，公正黨將有約40%的候選人是新面孔，其中大部份是年輕的男性和女性，以及是專業人士。

安華已宣佈公正黨策略局主任拉菲茲將是雪州班登區國會議席候選人、副主席蘇仁登將在巴東色海國會選區上陣，以及全國宣傳主任兼霹靂州主席諾曼努迪博士出戰峇眼色海國席。

民聯若勝出
堅信國陣會和平移交政權

安華堅信，如果民聯在下屆大選勝出，國陣將會遵守法治精神和平移交政權；同樣的，若民聯落敗，民聯支持者也會接受事實。

他以警方處理112人民大集會的經驗為例，證明警方有能力控制突發事件，同時相信軍隊能以專業方式處理問題。

“我看不到有甚麼發生騷亂事件的理由。＂他表示，民聯要執政是為了更好地治理國家，以造福全民。

安華也聲稱，雖然馬哈迪是他的宿敵，但他已經原諒後者，即使民聯入主布城，他也無意關押馬哈迪。

民聯決策須三黨同意
“絕不落實伊刑事法＂

安華認為，伊斯蘭黨不會因為要落實伊斯蘭刑事法而背叛民聯與巫統合作。

他指出，若巫統真的有意要落實伊法以穩住政權，在308大選受到重創的巫統早已和伊斯蘭黨合作，組成聯合政府了。

他也強調，若民聯當上政府，絕對不會落實伊斯蘭刑事法。

他說，民聯在做出任何決策時，主要依據兩大原則，即所有政策必須符合聯邦憲法和獲得三黨一致同意才可執行。

来源：http://news.sinchew.com.my/topic/node/363000

Despite royal ban, Pakatan says okay for non-Muslims to use ‘Allah’

By Clara Chooi
Assistant News Editor

January 08, 2013

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 8 — Despite the Selangor Sultan’s latest decree banning non-Muslims in the state from using “Allah”, Pakatan Rakyat (PR) confirmed today its stand on the controversy, insisting that Islam does not prohibit others from using the word.

Explaining the federal opposition’s position, PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang told a joint press conference with PR leaders here that Christians and other non-Muslim communities should not abuse the word to spread confusion among Muslims but this did not mean they were not allowed to use the word.

“Islam does not stop those of other faiths from using kalimah ‘Allah’ in their practice, although [in the usage of the word by non-Muslims] it does not refer to the original meaning of the word as according to the al-Quran,” he said, reading from a statement.

When reminded of the Selangor Sultan’s decree this morning, however, Hadi(picture) would not comment further, merely telling reporters that he would not repeat his statement as it should sufficiently explain PAS’s and PR’s position on the issue.

He said further queries should be directed to Umno, as a party that is part of the federal government that could decide on the usage of the word.

The religious leader pursed his lips, however, when it was pointed out that PR runs the Selangor government and the pact’s position on the controversy could be seen as a direct snub to the state Sultan.

PR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who was also at the press conference, however stepped in to say that the pact fully endorses PAS’s stand and reminded reporters that the Selangor Islamic Religious Council (MAIS), which the Sultan heads, does not represent the views of the state’s PR government.

“MAIS moves freely and has nothing to do with the state government,” he said.

“I think PAS’s statement is clear,” he added, when asked if this meant PR was going against the Selangor Sultan’s decree.

In a statement from MAIS today, the Selangor Sultan expressed shock over DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng’s recent remarks on the word “Allah” and called for an emergency meeting with state Islamic religious officials to bar non-Muslims from using the Arabic word for God.

“His majesty the Selangor Sultan has made a decision and decreed that the word ‘Allah’ is a sacred word specific to Muslims and is strictly forbidden to use by any non-Muslim religion in Selangor as stated in a fatwa and gazetted on 18 February 2010,” MAIS secretary Datuk Mohd Misri Idris said in a statement.

The religious debate was reignited recently when Lim raised the controversial “Allah” issue in his Christmas message urging the federal government to lift its ban on the word published in the Malay bibles shipped in to Sabah and Sarawak, who form the bulk of Malaysia’s 9.2 per cent Christian population.

“PAS is very disappointed at Umno, a party that represents the Malay Muslims and Barisan Nasional (BN), which rules this country, for turning this kalimah ‘Allah’ into an issue... without caring about the misunderstanding that it has created and the tension among our multireligious nation,” Hadi said today.

In recent years, the Christian and Muslim religious communities have been engaged in a tug-of-war over the word “Allah”, with the latter group arguing that its use should be exclusive to them on the grounds that Islam is monotheistic and the word “Allah” denotes the Muslim god.

Shipments of the Alkitab, the Malay-language Bible catering to the Bahasa Malaysia-speaking Bumiputera Christians, were blocked or confiscated at ports before the government finally bowed to pressure and released them in 2011.

Source: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/despite-royal-ban-pakatan-says-okay-for-non-muslims-to-use-allah/