Sarawak Chief Minister Adenan Satem has been urged to convince the federal government to allow the use of 'Allah' throughout Malaysia by the Association of Churches Sarawak (ACS).
ACS secretary-general Ambrose Linang touched on this in welcoming the assurance from Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak that the National Registration Department (NRD) will withdraw its appeal against Rooney Rebit who wished to convert from Islam to Christianity.
It was reported that Adenan had personally intervened in Rebit's case to uphold the latter’s constitutional right of being a Christian, and Najib had given the assurance.
He thanked Adenan for his good efforts and commitment to uphold religious freedom and they looked forward to NRD's withdrawal of its appeal in Rebit's case as soon as possible.
“This is so that the High Court order is complied by the NRD without further delay.
“We also call on the federal government and NRD not to object to similar cases in future. ACS remain hopeful that a Ministry of Non-Muslim affairs be established by the Sarawak government to look after the affairs and interests of non-Muslims.
“ACS urges the CM to convince the Federal government to reverse the ban on the use of the word Allah by Christians, and that Christians be allowed to use the word Allah in any part of the Federation in the practice of their faith,” Ambrose added further.
Rebit, a Bidayuh who was converted to Islam as a child, in a landmark ruling on March 24, had been granted a declaration by the Kuching High Court that he is a Christian in accordance with his constitutional right to freedom of religion, as he is now an adult.
It ordered NRD to change his name to Rooney Rebit and his religion from Islam to Christianity in his identity card and its records. The department filed an appeal against the decision on April 22.
NRD was the only party which objected to the decision. The Sarawak Islamic Religious Department (Jais) and the Sarawak Islamic Council had no objections.
MIC president, Dr S Subramaniam also welcomed the assurance made by Najib that the NRD would withdraw the case and discontinue the appeal against the High Court decision.
"This is the correct decision and also an important precedent," the MIC president said.
Sarawak is facing its state election with early voting beginning today and general voting on Saturday. -Mkini
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