Amid a polarised political landscape where the central focus is on race and religion, the government’s decision to withdraw its appeal against a court ruling has provided fresh fodder for its rivals.

The backpedalling on an appeal against a landmark High Court ruling which allowed a non-Muslim Sarawakian to use the word "Allah" comes ahead of the six state elections in which Perikatan Nasional is hoping to unleash a green wave similar to the one in last November’s national polls...