Kedah govt forbids use of word "Allah" by non-Muslims

(Bernama) - "We cannot accept their excuses because hidden behind those excuses is the aim of turning Muslims into disbelievers of the religion," said Mukhriz

The Kedah government today stressed that it did not allow the word "Allah" to be used by non-Muslims in their holy books.

Menteri Besar Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir in stating the state government's stand, also warned that stern action would be taken against those involved "as they are insensitive to the majority of the country's population who are Muslims".

"The state government will not compromise on the misuse of the 'kalimah Allah' by non-Muslims," he said after handing out contributions to 372 volunteer Quran teachers, village midwives and mudin from the Kubang Pasu district at the Wang Tepus Mosque, near here, yesterday evening.

Mukhriz stressed that the word "Allah" was only for Muslims and its meaning in Islam could not be otherwise to mean god in general, and what more as "lord", which means master in the Malay language.

He viewed non-Muslims bent on using the word "Allah" in the Malay language version of the Bible as not having good intentions towards Muslims, besides trying to confuse young Muslims.

"We cannot accept their excuses because hidden behind those excuses is the aim of turning Muslims into disbelievers of the religion," said Mukhriz, who also reminded Muslims to give a clear message to outsiders who were supporting the use of the "kalimah Allah" in the Malay language version of the Bible.

Recently, the Vatican City's envoy, Bishop Joseph Marino made a statement in support of the move by non-Muslims which many quarters deemed inappropriate. Mukhrz also wanted Muslims to send a clear message that they did not tolerate individuals who mocked the holy month of Ramadan, which was done deliberately.

"In a multiracial and multireligious country, we cannot be playing around with the religion of others as religion is a sensitive issue.

"Who indoctrinated them to the extent that they were willing to mock Ramadan, especiallly in a Muslim-majority country? I don't understand how this could have happened," he said in reference to a couple, Alvin Tan and Vivian Lee, who mocked Muslims and Ramadan in their Facebook page.

The two have been hauled up by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission to give their statement. Mukhriz urged that stern action be taken against the offending couple as a deterrent for them and others.