Sarawakians can use election to get closure on ‘Allah’ issue: Upko chief

[superadmin]

KOTA KINABALU – Sarawak voters have the power to push for the federal government to withdraw its appeal filed during Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s administration against the high court ruling on the use of the word “Allah” and three other Arabic words.

Sabah’s Upko president Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau said Sarawak voters can tell the candidates running in the state election that they want closure on the matter. 

He calls all political parties in East Malaysia to unite and urge Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob to instruct the Attorney-General’s Chambers to withdraw its appeal on the “Allah” issue.

“By withdrawing the appeal, Ismail Sabri can make Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) stand proud in the coming state election, and as his government needs Sarawak and Sabah, he can persuade Malayan hardliners to find civil and reasonable ways to address the Malayan Malay-Muslims’ cultural shock

“The prime minister should walk the talk on his Keluarga Malaysia concept. Show commitment to the Malaysia Agreement 1963 by ordering the Attorney-General’s Chambers to withdraw its appeal on the ‘Allah’ issue,” he said in a statement today. 

Tangau, who is Tuaran MP, said Ismail Sabri now has the opportunity to right the wrong left uncorrected for 35 years by four prime ministers – Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (twice), Tun Abdullah Badawi, Datuk Seri Najib Razak and Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

He said 35 years ago, Dr Mahathir had issued a ban on the use of the word “Allah” and snatched away the right of Christians and other non-Muslims in Borneo to pray to Allah, succumbing to the ignorance and arrogance of some Malayans. 

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