PN is for all races, says Muhyiddin in welcoming PAS support

Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin today welcomed the latest statement of support from PAS urging Muslim groups to back the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government, but said it is also important for the ruling coalition to be supported by all communities.

“What is important is that as a party that supports the struggle for the nation, we must get support from all communities,” Muhyiddin told reporters during a visit to the Kuching hospital, accompanied by Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg.

He said it was also important that the parties represent all races.

“It is not about Malays,” he said.

PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang today issued the strongest yet signal to Umno that his party would no longer entertain calls to abandon PN, the coalition that PAS and Muhyiddin’s Bersatu is a part of.

When asked to comment on the federal government’s move to appeal against the High Court ruling allowing Christians to use the word “Allah” in their religious publications for education, Muhyiddin said he would leave the matter to the court.

“The appeal is on, so let’s wait for the result. I would not want to express my personal feelings because it could be sub judice.

“The attorney-general has appealed to that, and I will leave it entirely to the court.”

Putrajaya said on March 15 that it would appeal against the court ruling annulling the directive prohibiting Christians from using “Allah” and three other words in their religious publications.

The High Court in Kuala Lumpur had ruled five days earlier that Christians could use “Allah”, “Baitullah”, “Kaabah” and “solat” in their publications for educational purposes.

Court of Appeal judge Nor Bee Ariffin, sitting as a High Court judge, had allowed a judicial review application by Sarawak native Christian, Jill Ireland Lawrence Bill, whose legal battle on the matter began 13 years ago.

Nor Bee in her ruling held that the 1986 directive by the home ministry barring the use of the four words was filled with illegality and irrationality.