A DAP minister tried to meddle in 'Allah case', Muhyiddin reveals
KUALA LUMPUR – There was a minister from DAP who had previously requested the government to settle the controversial case deliberating the usage of the word 'Allah' in Christian religious materials out of court.
This shocking revelation was made by Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who served as the Home Minister back when Putrajaya was governed by Pakatan Harapan -- from 2018 to 2020 -- in a statement issued today.
"I disagreed with this request because resolving the matter outside of court meant that the ministry would withdraw the order for the seizure of Christian religious material containing the word Allah.
"Our position at that time was that this case must be decided by the court according to the legal process," he wrote, adding that the dissemination of such materials could distress and undermine public order and national security.
However, the Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman did not name the DAP minister who approached him and made such a request.
The case, popularly known as the 'Jill Ireland case,' regained notoriety after the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim-led government, withdrew the appeal against the High Court ruling that allowed the word to be used in Sabah and Sarawak for educational purposes.
According to Muhyiddin, when the High Court granted Jill Ireland's application in 2021, the PN government -- in which he was the then-Prime Minister -- at that time was of the view that the decision in this case should be appealed to the Court of Appeal.
"I regret the decision of the PH-BN government to withdraw the appeal in a case involving the sensitivities of Muslims and the public interest.
"It is customary in any court case that the dissatisfied party can appeal to a higher court.
"The case should have been decided through the legal process in court before the government makes any policy decisions regarding it," added Muhyiddin.
If the court's decision still does not favour the government after the appeals process is completed, he argued that it would be appropriate for the government to amend the relevant laws to ensure that the objectives of the law are enforced.
"Namely, to guarantee harmony among the multi-religious society and maintain public order in this country," Muhyiddin remarked.
Yesterday, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution explained that the contentious withdrawal was following the discovery of a contradiction between a 1986 cabinet decision and the Home Ministry's administrative order in the same year.
Saifuddin said the Kuala Lumpur High Court's decision was based on a civil and administrative approach, which relates to the seizure of publication materials at that time.
"And it was not from the theological aspect or anything that involved the use of the word Allah.
"Therefore, the function of the court itself was inappropriate in deciding affairs related specifically to religious matters.
"Therefore, in the March 21 judgment, it was clear the judge had made a decision based on an administrative approach and did not touch on the use of Allah," he reasoned.
In this case, the government's decision not to proceed with the appeal, added Saifuddin, was made on a case-by-case basis, without jeopardizing facts for any case that is in court action.
