High Court Judge Nor Bee Ariffin, in allowing a judicial review by a Sarawakian Christian, said a Dec 5, 1986, home affairs ministry directive prohibiting the use of certain words by non-Muslims was illegal and unconstitutional, adding that it was wrongly issued as it went beyond the aim of the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984.

“The home ministry takes note of the decision by the Kuala Lumpur High Court on March 10 related to the issue of the word ‘Allah’ and other matters brought by Jill Ireland against the ministry,” home minister Hamzah Zainudin said in a statement today.

“The ministry will decide on follow-up action from the legal aspect after receiving the reasons for the judgment in writing from the Kuala Lumpur High Court.

“I call on all parties not to speculate nor make any interpretations of the decision, and to respect the legal and judicial process of the country.”

PPBM, Umno and PAS have all said they want Putrajaya to appeal the High Court’s decision, with PPBM information chief Wan Saiful Wan Jan today saying the country’s laws need to be managed “carefully and thoroughly” in matters that touch on the sensitivities of Muslims.

Last night, Umno and PAS, through their Muafakat Nasional alliance, said they wanted the government to launch an appeal as they were concerned by the court’s decision to allow the terms “Allah”, “Baituallah”, “Solat” and “Kaabah” to be used by non-Muslims in their publications.

On the other hand, Christian organisations and the Sabah and Sarawak government leaders have welcomed the decision and said the federal government should not appeal the decision. Among those who made the calls were Sarawak deputy chief minister James Masing, Sabah Upko MP Wilfred Madius Tangau, Sabah senator Donald Mojuntin and Upko vice-president Ewon Benedick.