Respect all religions, beliefs, says STAR deputy president

 By Olivia Miwil - March 19, 2021 @ 4:28pm

STAR deputy president Jalumin Bayogoh said he was astounded the issue was still being debated and has become a point of contention among the public. - NST/file pic.

KOTA KINABALU: Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR) called on all parties to respect the Kuala Lumpur High Court's ruling which allowed non-Muslims to refer to God by using the Arabic word 'Allah'.

STAR deputy president Jalumin Bayogoh said he was astounded the issue was still being debated and has become a point of contention among the public.

"What is even more tragic is that this discord has spread to Sabah and Sarawak when this should not have been a problem at all.

"Even Sabah Mufti Datuk Bungsu @ Aziz Jaafar has already recommended that the court's decision be respected," he said in a statement here.

Jalumin added as a Muslim leader in STAR, he urged all party members to stop politicising the issue.

He said the people should heed the words of Deputy Chief Minister and STAR president Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, who reminded the people to always preserve the harmony among Sabah's multi religious community.

Jalumin said a majority of Muslims in Sabah and Sarawak do not actually feel threatened by the High Court's decision.

He said it was common for Muslims in Sabah and Sarawak to have close relationships with their non-Muslim families members without fear of being converted out of Islam simply because their non-Muslim families refer to God with the Arabic word 'Allah'.

"We all know this because we actually speak to each other and we do not mind going into churches. We are so multireligious that in some villages, we even erect our houses of worship next to each other.

"This disappointment with the court ruling happened out of 'Malayan' ignorance and I implore Bornean Muslims not to be drawn into it," he said, referring to the oft-used term here which refers to Malaysians in the peninsula.

He urged Sabahans to respect each other's religions and beliefs to ensure that the peace and harmony long enjoyed by the people would continue for many more years.

"Our ability to coexist peacefully amid our differences is a blessing that few people possess. Do not allow anybody's political agendas ruin this precious gift," he said.