Johor bans Mufti Menk, Haslin Baharim
JOHOR BARU: Johor has banned Grand Mufti of Zimbabwe Ismail Menk and Malaysian ustaz Haslin Baharim from delivering religious talks in the state after their speeches were found to contain elements detrimental to national unity and racial harmony.
The announcement follows the barring of the two preachers from entering Singapore after authorities in the republic found their teachings contravene with multicultural and multireligious values.
It said the preachers’ views could breed intolerance and were a risk to its social harmony.
State Religious Affairs Committee chairman Abd Mutalip Abd Rahim said the move followed a decree by issued by Sultan of Johor Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar yesterday.
“The content of the religious talks delivered by the two preachers was seen as liable to raise anxiety with regard to racial harmony. The Johor Islamic Religious Department will continue to monitor religious talks delivered in the state to ensure that they do not contain elements or opinions that could lead to racial disunity.”
On Tuesday, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said Malaysia had no plans to bar Menk and Haslin, popularly known as Ustaz Bollywood, from giving talks in the country as they had not run afoul of the country’s laws.
He said during their time in Malaysia, the two preachers had not said anything that could cause conflict or disharmony among the country’s multicultural and multiracial community.