Let’s leave it to the court, says Muhyiddin
KUCHING: Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said he will leave it to the court for its decision on the federal government’s appeal against a High Court decision to allow non-Muslims to use the word ‘Allah’. “Well, I cannot comment that much because the case is now with the court. The appeal is on, so let’s wait for the result. “And I would not want to express my personal feelings because it would be subjudice. “The Attorney-General has appealed against that, and we leave it entirely to the court to decide,” he said in a press conference after visiting Sarawak General Hospital’s (SGH) new Day Care Centre in conjunction with his visit to Sarawak here today (April 2). Muhyiddin was responding to questions regarding certain parties which raised their concern on the federal government’s appeal against the High Court decision. On March 10, the High Court ruled that Christians nationwide could use the word ‘Allah’ and three other Arabic words – Baitullah, Kaabah and solat in their religious publications for education purposes. Court of Appeal judge Nor Bee Ariffin, sitting as a High Court judge, had allowed a judicial review application by Sarawak native Christian, Jill Ireland Lawrence Bill, whose legal battle on the matter began 13 years ago. However on March 15, the federal government gave a notice that it would appeal against the High Court ruling.
