Borneo churches insist on using ‘Allah’, slams appeal ruling
(MM) – Sabah and Sarawak churches maintained today that they will continue calling their god “Allah”, despite the Court of Appeal ruling today that the Arabic word was exclusive to Muslims.
Archbishop Datuk Bolly Lapok, chairman of the Association of Churches in Sarawak, said it was “utterly irresponsible” and “grossly demeaning, to say the least”, for the appellate court to rule that the use of the word “Allah” was not integral to the Christian faith.
“In the meantime, Christians in Sabah and Sarawak continue to reverently worship their Allah until the Kingdom comes.
“What are you going to do about it?” said Lapok in a statement today.
Bishop Datuk Dr Thomas Tsen, president of the Sabah Council of Churches, also said separately that Bumiputera Christians in Sabah will keep using the word “Allah” in their worship and in the Al-Kitab.
“We’ll still do what we’ve been doing all this time,” Tsen told The Malay Mail Online today.
“‘Allah, bapa di syurga’ (Our Father, who art in Heaven) — that’s our Lord’s prayer. You cannot ask me to change the way I call our Father,” he added.
