This followed claims to the contrary by a member of the committee.

Wan Salim said there was no record of objections to the “kalimah Allah” decree, “by any individual or group”, to ban non-Muslims from using 40 Islamic words in 2010, as alleged by Penang Fatwa Committee member Md Saleh Ahmad.

In a statement today, Saleh had alleged that a state executive councillor had objected to the said ban and asked for the fatwa to be shelved.

Wan Salim, who is also Penang Fatwa Committee chair, said Penang had complied with the decision of the National Fatwa Committee “muzakarah” (convocation) on the “kalimah Allah” decree in 2008.

As a result, Penang’s fatwa to ban non-Muslims from using the words received the assent of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on March 11, 2010.

Wan Salim also denied claims that several fatwa had been “put on hold”.