Perlis mufti supports Johor ruler’s call for moderation

KANGAR: Muslims should heed the call by Sultan of Johor Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar to uphold Islamic teachings that practise the wasatiyyah concept, or moderation, and avoid extreme ideology.

Perlis mufti Datuk Dr Mohd Asri Zainal Abidin said the extreme exclusivity attitude and disrespect of the rights of other races and religions would only result in the downfall of Muslims.

Asri, known as Maza, cited that the term “Talibanisation” was defined as those who imitated the traits of the Taliban group, which were too exclusive, rigid, disrespectful of the rights of other people and who did not adopt the right context in religious teachings.

“In my view, the sultan of Johor is conveying the message that the rakyat should be rational and practise moderation as promoted by Islam when he said ‘Johor is not a Taliban state’.

“Segregation purportedly made in the name of Islam in public places, such as launderettes and restaurants, could lead to other problems if left unaddressed.”

Asri suggested that a progressive and moderate Islamic studies approach should be conducted to deepen the public’s understanding of Islamic teachings.

He believed such a measure could prevent the spread of extreme ideology.

Recently, Sultan Ibrahim ordered a Muslim-only launderette in Muar to stop the discriminatory practise and stressed that Johor was not a “Taliban state”.

The sultan had two days ago hit out at a religious speaker for allegedly criticising him and ordered the Johor Islamic Religious Department to cease dealing with the Malaysian Islamic Development Department.

He said the unbecoming behaviour of Zamihan Mat Zin, president of Malaysia Ahli Sunnah Waljamaah Organisation, who defied the ruler’s decree against the Muslim-only launderette, was a violation of the separation of jurisdiction between federal and state authorities over Islamic matters.

Zamihan allegedly made disparaging remarks against the sultan and Islamic scholars in a video on Oct 9.