Selangor Sultan says politicians cannot give mosque ceramahs

By Shannon Teoh

December 11, 2011

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 11 — Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah said that he has barred politicians from giving ceramahs in mosques as some have used the occasion for political instead of religious purposes.

The Selangor ruler said in an interview published by Utusan Malaysia today that mosques should instead be “a focal point for unity.”

“We do not allow politicians to ceramah in mosques and suraus, regardless of their party affiliation, because there are some who run down others in ceramahs. It hurts the ears.

“Why not mosques be the focal point of unity instead of causing strife?” the head of religion in the Pakatan Rakyat-governed state said.

Selangor PAS had accused in September state religious authorities of launching a political attack against its leadership after Dr Rani Osman was stripped of his religious credentials.

The state PAS chief had said other leaders in Selangor from the Islamic party had seen their credentials, which allowed them to give sermons freely in the country’s richest state, revoked by the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais).

Jais had also charged deputy state chief Khalid Samad for giving a sermon without prior permission.

But Selangor Islamic Religious Council (Mais) — which is in charge of Jais — chief Datuk Mohamad Adzib Mohd Isa denied the allegations.

PAS and Jais have been at loggerheads since the religious enforcement body was accused of trespassing on church property when it acted on a complaint that Muslims were being proselytised at an event being hosted there in August.

Sultan Sharafuddin added today that “if politicians were experts in talking about just religious matters, of course we would give them the credentials.”

“But if there is an ulterior motive, talking about religion for five minutes then slipping in politics, that is not sincere,” he said, defending the system of issuing credentials he explained would control any deviant teachings and the use of religion for politicking.

He admitted that many were unhappy that he does not want political ceramahs in mosques.

“If you don’t like it, don’t come to Selangor,” he said.