PAS’s fatwa proposal is pathetic, slams MCA

(TMT) – MCA Religious Harmony Bureau Chairman Datuk Ti Lian Ker expressed his concern over the recommendation by the PAS information chief Datuk Mahfuz Omar that the controversy on the right to use “Allah” be forwarded to the National Fatwa Council to decide on an issue involving interfaith differences.

“Mahfuz’ proposal is a pathetic attempt by PAS to compel non-Muslims to be subjected to Syariah law which is completely not-applicable to non-Muslims at all,” said Ti in the media statement to The MalaysianTimes (TMT).

He added that, this is tantamount to setting a precedent that the National Fatwa Council will reign supreme over the Federal Constitution which guarantees the rights and freedoms of non-Muslims.

“PAS wants to replace the country’s structure which is founded on the Federal Constitution with the National Fatwa Council and force non-Muslim to be bound to the jurisdiction of religious authorities,” Ti told TMT.

“Clearly, PAS intends to establish a legal and administrative precedent of imposing fatwa declarations on non-Muslims thereby subjecting the latter to the former’s jurisdiction,” said Ti.

He emphasised  the fatwa committee will reign supreme over the Federal Constitution and will impose and infringe the fundamental liberties guaranteed under the Federal Constitution.

Ti then pointed out that such moves are dangerous and must be prevented at all cost.

PAS URGED FATWA COUNCIL TO END CONFLICT

Earlier, it was reported that PAS has urged the National Fatwa Council to end the conflict over whether or not non-Muslims could use the word “Allah” to refer to God.

“We want the Fatwa Council to decide which is correct, both Muslims and non-Muslims had been left confused over conflicting state and federal stands on the matter, ” said Mahfuz at the PAS headquarters.

“The Fatwa Council should decide once and for all,” stressed Mahfuz.

He said while the Selangor Non-Islamic Religions (Control of Propagation Among Muslims) Enactment 1988 prohibited non-Muslims from using the term the Cabinet had allowed Christians from Sabah and Sarawak to use the term.

(The Federal Government had issued the 10-point solution to allowed Christians in East Malaysia to use “Allah” in the Al-Kitab prior to the 2011 Sarawak Elections.)

Mahfuz said both the Selangor and Federal governments must have consulted religious authorities before arriving at their decisions.