Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi during the "MUZAKARAH PAKAR TERJEMAHAN GOD SEBAGAI ALLAH : MENGENALPASTI PUNCA PERMASALAHAN & PENYELESAIANNYA" press conference. SUNpix : Kamariduan Mohd Nor

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 21, 2010): An expert panel discussion held by the Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia (Ikim) today agreed that the usage of the word “Allah” to interpret the word God is inaccurate and against actual reality.

This is because it is against the concept of God as taught in Islam based on the local policy and current reality in Malaysia, Ikim chairman Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said.

“Therefore, Ikim would like to stress again its stand that the crisis has created confusion, chaos and negative implications not only among Muslims but also among Christians.

“This does not do any good in the relationship among the multi-religious people of Malaysia in future,” he told a press conference after a day-long Muzakarah Pakar or discussion among experts.

The discussion themed: “The Translation of God as Allah: Identifying the Cause of Problem and its Solution,” was attended by 70 participants from the Attorney-General’s Chambers, state Islamic affairs councils, state mufti department, academicians and religious organisations.

The panellists were International Islamic University lecturer Assoc Prof Dr Kamar Oniah Kamaruzzaman, Religious Advisor to the Prime Minister Datuk Dr Abdullah Md Zin, PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang and Parti Keadilan Rakyat leader Dr Mohd Nur Manuty.

Other panellists were former Perlis mufti Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin, Ikim Economic and Community Studies Centre director Dr Mohd Sani Badron and Ikim Syariah, Law and Politics Centre fellow Md Asham Ahmad.

Abdullah said today's discussion has achieved its objective which was, among others, to identify the source of problem and its explanation from the perspective of religion, language, social and law.

“We have all agreed that we need to respect and uphold the Federal Constitution which allows freedom of religion to be practised in a peaceful and harmony situation.

“The problem we are facing now must be dealt with very carefully and should be resolved through dialogues and consensual spirit,” he said.

He also said Ikim will hold another session on Jan 25 themed “Managing Inter-Religious Crisis” involving religious leaders from other communities in the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhist, Christian, Hinduism, Sikh and Taoist.

The objective of the next session is to identify crisis, solution and mutual understanding for the harmony relationship of all races in the country.