MUKAH: The Kuala Lumpur High Court’s March 10 ruling on the use of the word ‘Allah’ and three other Arabic words for non-Muslims in their religious education and books is not a matter of who won or lost, or to humiliate any religion but respect for religious tolerance in Sarawak, said Tellian assemblyman Yussibnosh Balo.
He added that as a leader representing the Christian Melanau here, he believed that the word ‘Allah’ had been used by Christians here since their ancestors.
“For example, the words ‘Allah Taala’ in Mukah Melanau dialect had been used in all Christian prayer ceremonies here, either during Sunday Mass, death, wedding or other ceremonies.
“Furthermore, on a few occasions, the ceremonies were attended by friends and relatives from different religions without feeling any difference in their religious beliefs,” he said via WhatsApp on Friday.
“We in Sarawak respect each other. We have no problems living in one house because we understand the respective religious faith.
“Let us respect each other’s respective faith because we worship and prostrate to the same Creator although with different belief system.”
