Johor Sultan hauls up MP for political speech at mosque

Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar has expressed his displeasure with a minister who was recorded making a political speech inside a mosque in Johor Baru on Friday.

Without mentioning any names, Sultan Ibrahim ordered the political leader who is also a Member of Parliament to seek an audience with His Majesty as soon as possible.

The minister was also ordered to make a written apology and not repeat the mistake again.

“All mosques in the state are restricted areas for politics for a long time. This is a Johor tradition.

“It (mosque) is a place of worship and to unite the ummah.

“Any sort of politics will only bring disunity, affect the sanctity of a mosque and community harmony,” His Majesty said in a statement posted on Sultan Ibrahim’s Facebook page yesterday.

It is believed Sultan Ibrahim was referring to Agriculture and Agrobased Minister Datuk Salahuddin Ayob who is also Pulai MP after a 45-second video clip emerged showing him giving a speech to the congregation before the Friday prayers.

“Consider this a last warning and not to repeat it. I hope the leader realised the mistake and immediately apologised.

“Mosque is Allah’s house and a place to worship and its sanctity should be kept by all Muslims,” added His Majesty.

Sultan Ibrahim reminded the people of a ruling in Johor where all mosques in the state must not allow anyone to conduct a ceramah either inside or around its premises without approval from the Johor Islamic Religious Council.