PUTRAJAYA: Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said the different reactions among the non-Muslim leaders in government to the use of the word “Allah” would not cause a rift in the Federal Cabinet.
He said he did not forsee the issue causing tension among the government leaders.
Home Minister Hishammuddin Tun Hussein has also dismissed any talk of a rift among Cabinet members over the issue.
Both were quoted by Bernama as saying it was not unusual for members of the Cabinet to have differences of opinion on some issues.
Muhyiddin said the Cabinet members, as leaders representing various political parties and people of different faiths, would “surely have their own opinions” on the “Allah” issue and the government respected their opinions.
“But at the same time, the government is united in addressing the issue,” he said.
“I don’t think (there’ll be a rift in the Cabinet). We understand very much the situation. I don’t think at this stage it’s so critical. It’s quite normal to have different views.”
Muhyiddin also dismissed a claim that Umno was trying to politicise the issue and said the opposition was instead trying to gain political mileage from it.
“The government’s stand is also the party’s stand, and we have not used such an issue for political interest. The issue over the use of the word ‘Allah’ relates to the Muslim faith. We will not compromise on this.
“If there were statements made by Umno leaders on the issue, it was to show that we were sensitive to the people’s reactions and not to gain political mileage,” he said.
Hishammuddin said there had been, in the Cabinet, many different views voiced on many issues before.
“We are all in the same boat and are responsible for anything that happens to the country,” he said. “Whether our colour is yellow, brown, green or black or whether we are Muslim, Buddhist, Christian, we are all responsible for discharging the responsibility entrusted upon us.”
FMT
07/01/2010
He said he did not forsee the issue causing tension among the government leaders.
Home Minister Hishammuddin Tun Hussein has also dismissed any talk of a rift among Cabinet members over the issue.
Both were quoted by Bernama as saying it was not unusual for members of the Cabinet to have differences of opinion on some issues.
Muhyiddin said the Cabinet members, as leaders representing various political parties and people of different faiths, would “surely have their own opinions” on the “Allah” issue and the government respected their opinions.
“But at the same time, the government is united in addressing the issue,” he said.
“I don’t think (there’ll be a rift in the Cabinet). We understand very much the situation. I don’t think at this stage it’s so critical. It’s quite normal to have different views.”
Muhyiddin also dismissed a claim that Umno was trying to politicise the issue and said the opposition was instead trying to gain political mileage from it.
“The government’s stand is also the party’s stand, and we have not used such an issue for political interest. The issue over the use of the word ‘Allah’ relates to the Muslim faith. We will not compromise on this.
“If there were statements made by Umno leaders on the issue, it was to show that we were sensitive to the people’s reactions and not to gain political mileage,” he said.
Hishammuddin said there had been, in the Cabinet, many different views voiced on many issues before.
“We are all in the same boat and are responsible for anything that happens to the country,” he said. “Whether our colour is yellow, brown, green or black or whether we are Muslim, Buddhist, Christian, we are all responsible for discharging the responsibility entrusted upon us.”
FMT
07/01/2010
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