KUALA LUMPUR: When PAS and the DAP continue to squabble on the use of the word Allah for the Bahasa Melayu version of the Bible, their associate, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), keeps mum.
Without any effort to end the crisis, the action of PKR, headed by Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail as president, which prefers to keep quiet, also raises question marks.
Many grassroot members of the opposition pact are confused and question the accord achieved by PAS, PKR and DAP, which is purportedly strong.
After the series of protests on the use of the word Allah by PAS deputy Spiritual leader Datuk Dr Haron Din, now PAS’ Dewan Ulama chief Datuk Harun Taib also concurred the use of the word Allah among non-Muslims should not be allowed. The question is, what is actually implied behind the hard stand of the DAP chairman Karpal Singh who is determined that the word Allah be used in the Bahasa Melayu version of the Bible and, where is the role of PKR to diffuse the tension between its two friends?
Karpal Singh is adamant in defending the decision which was made by the opposition pact represented by PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, DAP Adviser Lim Kit Siang and PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Jan 8 that the use of the term Allah could be used by Christians on the condition it was not abused.
Commenting on the matter, former private secretary to the opposition leader Anuar Shaari says, PKR will not dare to oppose the stand of DAP including on using the word Allah as it wants to reap the support of the non-Malays.
“Everybody knows PKR needs DAP badly and for PKR, PAS is optional and can be disregarded. To me, PKR’s stand is to support DAP.
“PKR is more prepared to be in the good books on non-Muslims and could not be bothered about the sentiments of Muslim voters.
This is why PKR does not protest against whatever is done by DAP,” he said when contacted by Bernama, here, today. Anuar, who left PKR in March 2007 said, the people should reject the opposition pact specifically PKR, in the general election, because the party has its own agenda and is prepared to abandon friends to take advantage of the situation.
PKR is not only liberal on the Allah issue, and also on numerous other issues, among which is that the Malays are free to choose their religion, he said.
Umno Youth exco Lokman Noor Adam said, the decision of the Syura Council in January that the word Allah cannot be used in the Bahasa Melayu version of the Bible was only made after the issue was opposed by numerous quarters.
The 82nd Meeting of the National Fatwa Council Committee for Islamic Religious Affairs, which convened in May 2008, decided Allah was a sacred word for Islam and Muslims and it cannot be used by or likened with other religions.
Nevertheless, he said, the decision had been treated as garbage by all the leaders of the opposition pact.
“For PKR, if it can forsake, it will forsake everything to achieve Anwar’s ambition to become prime minister. In this issue, PAS and PKR, which have Malay memberships, should be disputed.
“If PAS is really fighting to defend the name of God, it should leave the opposition pact. Haron Din must press PAS to get out of the opposition pact or, he and Harun Taib must get out of PAS,” he said when contacted here.
Lokman Noor, who is also ex-PKR Youth assistant secretary said, PAS should not be continuously made a fool and become the political tool of PKR and DAP but should, on the other hand, go it alone.
PKR, a multi-racial party, is said to be aware its chance of getting the support of the Malays is deteriorating, and because of this, they openly and clearly start to fight for issues relating to apostacy and lesbianism, gays, bisexualism and transgender (LGBT).
“Now they are supporting religious pluralism, namely, a belief that makes all religions equal in the effort to get the support of non-Malays,” he said.
As such, he advised the people in the country to evaluate properly and not take the risk of picking parties which are not capable of defending the welfare of the people and the souvereignty of Islam as a federal religion.
Or are PAS and DAP still engaged in a drama to ensure they will not lose their supporters and to ensure issues about them continue to get publicity in the mass media after having exhausted issues they could manipulate and use?
