Police to act, if request made by Jais

(Bernama) – Police will take action over the “Allah” word issue in Selangor if its Islamic Religious Department (Jais) requests police to intervene in enforcing the ruling on the issue.

Home Minister Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said this was because Islamic religious matters were under the jurisdiction of the state government and police respected its jurisdiction over the issue.

“All quarters should stop playing up this sensitive issue…those involved should adhere to the decree by the Sultan of Selangor (Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah) and the court order for (non-Muslims) not to use the ‘kalimah Allah’ (in their scriptures),” he told reporters, here, today.

Earlier, he attended the wedding ceremony of his ministry’s officer, Azizul Hakim Abdul Aziz, 30, and his bride, Nurfaraheeda Omar, 26.

On Dec 27 last year, The Herald Weekly editor, Father Lawrence Andrew said the Catholic churches in Selangor would continue using the word “Allah” during its weekly service using the Malay language even though Jais had sent a reminder on the ban on using the word by non-Muslims.

Ahmad Zahid also advised all quarters not to “pour oil on a raging fire” over such a sensitive issue and not to have any evil intention behind the ”kalimah Allah” issue.

On another note, he reminded all not to accuse the police of being weak for not using tear gas and water cannons in dealing with the “Perhimpunan Guling Kerajaan”, a gathering calling for overthrow of the government, last Tuesday (New Year’s eve).

He said police instead took the approach of advising the rally participants to disperse and not to create disturbance which was the best approach taken at the time to maintain public order.

“However, I stress here that the individuals and NGOs (non-governmental organisations) which were the culprits behind the illegal gathering, especially those who violated the Peaceful Assembly Act, will not escape action.”

Ahmad Zahid said the initial investigation found that no leaders of any political party were involved in organising the gathering and that the involvement of political party members in the gathering was in their personal capacity or as members of NGOs.

Asked whether the NGOs involved were pro-opposition, he said: “I don’t want to make accusations, but it seems they are in that direction (pro-opposition).”