Malaysia’s 9 sultans speak on intolerance

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s nine state sultans have issued a rare statement expressing concern about “divisive actions” in the name of Islam, as fears grow of rising intolerance in the multiethnic country.

Referring to a controversy last month over laundrettes in two states which banned non-muslim customers, the revered sultans urged people to follow principles set out in the country’s constitution which say respect must be accorded to everyone regardless of their faith or ethnicity.

“The Malay Rulers take very seriously the issues of unity and harmony among the citizens of this multi-ethnic and multi-religious country,” they said in a joint statement on Tuesday.

About 60% of Malaysia’s popu- lation of some 30 million are Muslim Malays and the country is also home to sizeable Christian, Buddhist and Hindu minorities.

The statement said recent actions of certain individuals had “gone beyond all acceptable standards of decency”, and that such actions could be damaging “when they are erroneously associated with or committed in the name of Islam”.

The laundrettes in the states of Johor and Perlis eventually agreed to serve all customers regardless of their religion after they were condemned by the state sultans. It was the latest incident to stoke concerns that a traditionally tolerant brand of Islam is being eroded by the growing influence of fringe hardliners and conservative politicians.