Malaysia asks Vatican envoy not to back use of ‘Allah’ word

Kuala Lumpur: Malaysian authorities have asked Vatican’s ambassador to the country to retract his support for the use of the word “Allah” among Christians, saying it can threaten unity among Malaysians.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Jamil Khir Baharom said the statement by the ambassdor Archbishop Joseph Marino should not be made by any quarters, out of respect to the sensitivities of Muslims in the country.

“The religious tolerance in this country should be taken into account when issuing statements that could be interpreted as disrupting racial harmony in Malaysia,” Jamil said in a statement yesterday.

Marino had on Thursday expressed his support to the Christian Federation of Malaysia’s stand to allow the use of the word “Allah” among Christians while referring to God.

In 2009, Malaysia’s High Court ruled that the word was not the exclusive right of Muslims. The Home Ministry had since appealed to reverse the decision.

Meanwhile, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has said his government will continue to uphold Islam and protect its sanctity, including protecting the use of the word “Allah” with the mandate given by the people.

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