KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 29 — The Federal Constitution does not restrict Christians from using the word “Allah”, two Sarawak Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders have said.

According to Borneo Post Online yesterday, Sarawak BN Youth chief Datuk Fadillah Yusof said the row over “Allah” was never an issue in the state and despite differing views from his colleagues in the peninsula, the controversy would not affect BN in the next state election.

“Under the Constitution, there is a proviso to say if it involves Islam, there are certain restrictions.

“As far as practising (other religions), there is no issue.

“The Bible in the Malay language in Sarawak was never an issue. We always accept it,” he said, as quoted by English news portal.

Fadillah, who is also the Petra Jaya MP and the state’s Works Minister, said the claim that the “Allah” row would affect BN’s chances in the coming polls was just a political gimmick meant to create negative feelings against the state.

“This is why they are playing with sentiments, hoping that the uneasy feelings among the Christians will result in them not supporting the government. It’s just that,” he said.

In another report by Borneo Post, state Assistant Minister of Housing Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah told Sarawak folks to not follow the mindset of Malaysians in the peninsula when it comes to religion.

He also supported the use of the word “Allah” by Christians, adding that the raging row in Peninsular Malaysia should not affect citizens of the state.

“Don’t raise our children wrong. I don’t want the wrong practices to cause strife … If Christians want to pray to ‘Allah’, let them. It’s just a language,” he told Muslim religious teachers.

The Asajaya assemblyman also pointed out that both he and Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib are both still faithful Muslims despite studying Bible Knowledge in school.

Bumiputera Christians, who form about 64 per cent or close to two-thirds of the Christian community in Malaysia, have used the word “Allah” when praying and speaking in the national language and their native tongues for centuries.

During the last Sarawak state election in 2011, Putrajaya mooted the 10-point solution to resolve the controversy then over its seizure of a consignment of the Al-Kitab Bibles containing the word “Allah”.