Sultan revokes Zamihan's preaching credentials

PETALING JAYA: The Sultan of Selangor has instructed the Selangor Islamic Council (Mais) to revoke the preaching credentials of Zamihan Mat Zin.

Royal Court of Selangor secretary Hanafisah Jais said Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah had consulted the council on Monday before issuing the instructions to Mais.

Hanafisah said Mais had been instructed to remove Zamihan from the Selangor Tauliah Committee.

"This action follows a religious lecture by Zamihan that contained words that are racist, ill-mannered and excessively critical of the royal institution.

"The lecture also took place at a royal mosque where such religious lectures should not take place,” Hanafisah said in a statement Monday.

She said that Sultan Sharafuddin also instructed that lectures at mosques and surau be recorded for monitoring purposes.

Sultan Sharafuddin also instructed that the volume of loudspeakers during lectures be lowered, except for the call of Azan and the recitation of Quran verses, she said.

“The Malay rulers are of the opinion that the image of Islam as the federal religion is a religion that should encourage its followers to be tolerant, moderate, inclusive and not polluted by extreme actions,” said Hanafisah.

She added that Sultan Sharafuddin reminded all Selangor citizens to respect the main principles in the Federal Constitution for the country’s harmony and peace.

Zamihan has come under fire for allegedly criticising Johor Ruler Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar over the Muslims-only launderette issue.

In a video clip that went viral, Zamihan also made disparaging remarks against the Chinese by calling them “unhygienic.”

Zamihan was released after a two-day remand in investigations for sedition on Saturday (Oct 14.)