SHAH ALAM: Despite Selangor’s status as one of Malaysia’s most developed states, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah remains concerned that some of his subjects, particularly the poor and underprivileged, continue to struggle with the challenges of daily life.
The concern reflects the Sultan’s commitment to his responsibilities as the Head of the Islamic Religion in Selangor, which extend beyond safeguarding aqidah (faith) and strengthening religious institutions to include protecting the welfare of the Muslim community while preserving harmony with non-Muslims.
Selangor Islamic Religious Council (MAIS) chairman Datuk Salehuddin Saidin, who has known the Sultan for nearly 18 years, said His Royal Highness fully understood his responsibility to safeguard his subjects' welfare, uphold the sanctity of Islam, and ensure justice for all.
"His Highness is always deeply concerned about matters affecting the Muslim community. Should there be instances where Muslims are oppressed, left without economic support or struck by misfortune, His Highness is the first to instruct us, the religious institutions, to take action,” he told Bernama in an interview held in conjunction with the recent Silver Jubilee celebration of the Sultan’s reign.
Salehuddin, also a member of the Selangor Royal Council, said the Sultan paid particular attention to the plight of Muslims from lower-income backgrounds and those living in poverty, insisting that they be identified so assistance could reach them effectively.
"In every discussion, His Highness consistently reminds us that the poor and destitute must not be sidelined. He emphasises the need to compile data so that this group continues to receive the attention it needs,” he said.
While proud of Selangor’s development, Sultan Sharafuddin has cautioned against measuring the state’s success solely in economic terms when some of its people continue to live in poverty.
According to Salehuddin, the Sultan is aware of urban poverty, including the plight of residents in dilapidated flats where large families are forced to live in cramped two-room homes.
His Royal Highness has questioned the value of celebrating the state’s progress if sections of society remain marginalised.
In response to these concerns, the Sultan has directed religious institutions, including the Selangor Zakat Board, to proactively identify asnaf (zakat-eligible recipients) and ensure assistance reaches those who need it most.
His Royal Highness has also stressed that state policies and budget allocations must address the housing, education and daily living needs of underprivileged communities, Salehuddin said.
On efforts to uphold and strengthen Islam, Salehuddin said the Sultan wanted the aqidah of the Muslims to be preserved in accordance with the Ahli Sunnah wal Jamaah tradition, while measures were taken to prevent the spread of deviant teachings and ideologies such as liberalism and pluralism.
He added that the management of religious institutions, including mosques and surau (prayer halls), must be strengthened professionally, particularly in administrative and financial matters, to maintain public confidence.
The Sultan also wants comprehensive religious programmes to reach urban and rural communities, including the B40 (bottom 40 per cent income group) and other underprivileged groups, so that the benefits of development and welfare are shared more equitably.
At the same time, efforts to strengthen Islam must go hand in hand with respect for other religions to preserve harmonious relations within society.
Salehuddin said the Sultan viewed unity among Muslims and positive relations among people of different ethnic backgrounds and faiths as essential foundations for national development.
Community leaders, he said, should promote unity rather than deepen divisions.
"His Highness expects community leaders never to act as the masterminds behind societal fragmentation. Instead, they should encourage Muslims and people of other ethnic groups to live in harmony and unity,” he said.
The young generation is another priority for the Sultan, who has repeatedly reminded MAIS and the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS) to ensure that young people are not overlooked when planning religious programmes at state, district, mosque and surau levels.
Salehuddin said Sultan Sharafuddin Idris wanted targeted initiatives to encourage young people to engage with mosques and surau through activities suited to their interests, including sports and recreation after the Subuh (dawn) prayer.
Mosque and surau committees have also been urged to reach out to younger congregants and diversify their activities to make religious institutions more welcoming, he said.
"We must not focus solely on the adult or older generations when planning initiatives to enliven our mosques,” he said.
Salehuddin added that the Sultan had called on mosque and surau committees to think beyond conventional approaches and ensure their programmes catered to different segments of society.
Through such efforts, he said, mosques and surau could serve not only as places of worship but also as centres for learning, strengthening community ties, distributing assistance to those in need and bringing young people closer to religion. – Bernama
