KUCHING: Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) Youth chief Datuk Snowdan Lawan has called upon certain parties to accept and respect the High Court’s decision to allow the use of the word ‘Allah’ by non-Muslims.
He said the court has already decided and the decision ought to be honoured.
“There should be a time when an issue should settle down in residue, let it not resurface, more so if the court has decided.
“To the court it was referred, and by the court it had been decided. Accept the verdict then,” he said.
Snowdan said this in response to the intention of United Malay National Organisation (Umno) and Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS) that wanted the government to appeal the decision by the High Court which allowed a judicial review application by a Sarawakian Christian, Jill Ireland, to use the word ‘Allah’ in her religious education and also allow the term ‘Allah’ to be used by non-Muslims in their respective publications.
“How many more reviews or appeals that each party has to make before we can faithfully honour the court’s decision?” he asked.
The Balai Ringin assemblyman pointed out that it was already a waste of the court’s time and resources since 2008 when the legal battle first landed in court 13 years ago.
Snowdan said Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Jemut Masing was right when he said it was ridiculous for political parties to demand that the government appeals the decision as Malaysia is a multi-religious country.
“We are already not in political equilibrium up there, rekindling the same issue over and over again is unwarranted,” he said.
