Does Umno’s support undermine the Cabinet’s 10-point solution credibility?

Question

Accepted Answer

Umno Leaders' Actions Cast Doubt on the Credibility of the Cabinet's 10-Point Solution

Senior Umno leaders have publicly supported recent actions and protests related to the use of the word "Allah" by non-Muslims, raising significant questions about the commitment to the Cabinet's 2011 10-point solution. This solution, which aimed to resolve the controversy surrounding the use of the Arabic word in Christian publications, appears to be undermined by statements and actions from figures like Umno deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Selangor Umno chief Datuk Seri Noh Omar, who were themselves part of the Cabinet that agreed to the 2011 resolution. The recent raid on the Bible Society of Malaysia by Selangor Islamic authorities, which resulted in the seizure of over 300 Bibles, has intensified these concerns.
Support for Raids and Protests Contradicts Previous Cabinet Agreement

The endorsement of the raid on the Bible Society of Malaysia by Umno leaders like Muhyiddin Yassin and Noh Omar is in direct contradiction to the Cabinet's 2011 decision. In April 2011, the Cabinet, with both Muhyiddin and Noh Omar present in their respective roles as deputy prime minister and agriculture minister, agreed to a 10-point solution that permitted the Christian community to print, import, and distribute Bibles containing the word "Allah." This 2011 agreement was intended to provide a framework for religious freedom concerning the use of the term, yet recent actions suggest a divergence from that commitment.
Selangor Enactment and Royal Decree Cited as Justification

Muhyiddin Yassin has stated that Umno Selangor's actions were in accordance with the Selangor Sultan's royal decree prohibiting non-Muslims from using the word "Allah." This decree is linked to the Selangor Non-Islamic Religions (Control of Propagation Among Muslims) Enactment 1988. This state law prohibits non-Muslims in Selangor from using 35 specific Arabic words and phrases in their religious practices, including "Allah." However, legal experts have raised questions regarding the validity and constitutionality of this 1988 state enactment, suggesting potential conflicts with federal constitutional guarantees.
Broader Implications for Religious Freedom and the Christian Community

The Bible Society of Malaysia has highlighted that its reach extends beyond churches in Sabah and Sarawak, encompassing Sabahan and Sarawakian Christians, Orang Asli churches, and other Malay-speaking Christians across the peninsula. Christians constitute approximately 10 percent of Malaysia's population, with a significant majority being Bumiputera and predominantly residing in Sabah and Sarawak. In these regions, the use of Bahasa Malaysia and indigenous languages in religious contexts, including referring to God as "Allah," is a common practice. The ongoing legal dispute between the government and the Catholic Church concerning the use of "Allah" in the Herald's Bahasa Malaysia section, currently before the Federal Court, further underscores the sensitivity and complexity of this issue.

Reading history

Hide →

This history is cleared when the page is closed.

Does Umno’s support undermine the Cabinet’s 10-point solution credibility?

Loading

Was this article helpful?

Helpful

Not helpful

Report an issue

1

0

0

Share with friends