FOR YOU: Abdullah hands over a contribution to a student at the Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Datuk Haji Ahmad Badawi in Kepala Batas. — Bernama photo
KEPALA BATAS: Former Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi regarded the decision by the PAS Syura Council on the issue pertaining to the use of the word Allah in the Malay-language Bible as a political trick by the party.
He said as PAS, which claimed to be a party which champions Islam, should have been more learned in the matter.
“I thought the PAS people know about it (use of the word Allah)and there was chaos when they had to please their allies, so they have to give in (allow the use of the word Allah.
“But, when there is protest from the grassroots, they (PAS) change their stand. This is all PAS’ politics because election is near,” he said after presenting school aid to 600 students in the Kepala Batas parliamentary constituency here.
The issue on the use of the word Allah in the Malay version of the Bible was raised by Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, but various quarters were against it.
Various quarters had protested over Lim’s call, but his allies, including PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang and PAS spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) de-facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had lauded it. However, in accordance with the Syura Council’s decision, Nik Aziz had made a u-turn in his stand by stressing that the word ‘Allah’ cannot be used by the non-Muslims. — Bernama