Questioning mosque SOPs means questioning sultans - minister

 

Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob has warned critics not to blame the federal government for the strict standard operating procedures for mosques.

This he said, was as SOPs for mosques came under the purview of the state religious authorities which is overseen by the sultans.

"So questioning strict mosque SOPs means they are questioning decrees by the sultans.

"They have to be careful in making statements blaming the government because this is being seen as aimed at the sultans.

"Blaming the National Security Council (NSC), it means they are blaming the state Islamic authorities and the sultans," he said at a press conference today.

While he did not mention if this violated any law, the Sedition Act makes it an offence "to bring into hatred or contempt or to excite disaffection" against any sultan.

Ismail was responding to criticisms by religious preachers over SOPs for mosques which vary from state to state.

He said the federal government and the NSC played no role in setting SOPs for mosques.

"It has nothing to do with the federal government, especially the NSC," he said.

Under the Federal Constitution, Islamic matters fall under the purview of the states. The sultans, meanwhile, are the heads of Islam for their respective states.

The Yang di-Pertuan Agong is the head of Islam for the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan as well as for Penang, Malacca, Sabah and Sarawak, all of which have no sultans.

However, in the Federal Territories, the Islamic Affairs Department (Jawi) and Islamic Council (MAIWP) report to the de facto Islamic affairs minister, meaning that there is likely some federal involvement in the setting of SOPs for mosques in these territories.

Meanwhile, Ismail said as barbershops and hair salons have yet to open in MCO-imposed states, male school students will be allowed to go to school with long hair.

This is as students facing exams have been allowed to attend school. All others will continue to learn online from home. - Mkini