Guan Eng has no power to permit use of ‘Allah’, says home minister

(Bernama) – The Chief Minister or Mentri Besar has no power to issue statements or make decisions on the use of the word “Allah”, Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said today.

He said the matter was under the prerogative of the Yang Dipertua Negeri, who represented the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, as the head of Islam and Malay Customs in the state concerned.

Normally, he said, the Yang Dipertua Negeri would delegate the power to the Islamic Religious Council president or the Islamic Department head.

“Although the edict has to be implemented at the state level and Islam comes under the jurisdiction of the state government, the executive power is not with the mentri besar or the chief minister,” he told reporters after opening the Water Sports Carnival at the Bagan Datoh tourism complex, here today.

He was commenting a statement by Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, which was posted in several news portal, that non-Muslims could use the word “Allah” in Penang as the Administration of Religion of Islam (Penang) Enactment 2004 enactment banning the use of the  word could not be enforced on them as it applied to Muslims only.

Asked whether a police report had been lodged, Ahmad Zahid said the police would investigate.