Controversial preacher stripped of credentials
> Sultan of Selangor orders Zamihan to be barred from giving lectures in the state
PETALING JAYA: The Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, has ordered the Selangor Islamic Council (MAIS) to revoke the credentials of controversial preacher Zamihan Mat Zin, who will no longer be able to give lectures in the state.
In a statement yesterday, Selangor Council of the Royal Court secretary Hanafisah Jais said the decision was made in accordance with Regulation 17 of the Tauliah (State of Selangor) Regulations 2008, after Sultan Sharafuddin consulted the council.
MAIS has also been instructed to remove Zamihan from the Selangor Tauliah Committee, as provided under Regulation 4 of the same Regulations.
“This is following Zamihan’s religious lecture that contained words that are racist in nature, ill-mannered and over-critical of the royal institution.
“Moreover, his lecture was delivered at a royal mosque, where such lectures should not have taken place,” the statement read.
Hanafisah said Sultan Sharafuddin has also instructed all mosque and surau committees in the state to make video recordings of all lectures held at their premises for records and contentmonitoring purposes.
The Sultan also decreed that the use of public address speakers to broadcast lectures in the state be limited to within the mosque and surau compounds.
“This is to preserve the image of Islam that prioritises the welfare of the society,” Hanafisah said, adding that the ruling does not apply to the “azan” (prayer call) and recitation of Al-Quran verses.
“The Sultan would also like to remind all Selangor citizens to respect the principles enshrined in the Federal Constitution, for the stability and security of the country,” she added.
In a lecture at the Masjid Tengku Ampuan Jemaah in Shah Alam on Oct 8, Zamihan said it was “not right” for a sultan to ban Muslims-only launderettes, and labelled Chinese “unhygienic”.
Although he did not mention the name of the sultan, the Malaysian Islamic Development Department officer and Sunni Organisation Malaysia president is widely believed to have been referring to the Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar, who had earlier banned Muslims-only launderettes in Johor.