Stop polls on use of word ‘Allah’, Bar warned

(NST) – The Bar Council has been warned that action may be taken against it over its online poll on the use of the word "Allah" in non-Muslim publications.

Selangor Islamic Religious Council chairman Datuk Mohamad Adzib Mohd Isa said it was consulting with its lawyers over the Bar Council's poll and what action could be taken against it.

He said the Bar Council should follow the provisions of the Non-Muslim Religious Enactment 1988.

"It's wrong for non-Muslims to use the word Allah in their religious books or publications and they could be prosecuted for doing so under the enactment," Adzib said.

The Bar Council's website is conducting several polls. Two of the polls asked people to vote on whether Muslims have the exclusive right to use the word Allah and whether The Herald and other religious publications be allowed to use the word.

Close to 1,100 people have voted.

Bar Council secretary Lim Chee Wee said he was astounded with Adzib's opinion that they could not even seek public views.

Lim said many had expressed their opinions, including Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat, who was in f