Don’t test constitutional monarchy’s limits, Jakim tells Muslims in Friday sermon
(Malay Mil Online) – Malaysians must show deference and respect towards the sanctity of the country’s constitutional monarchy by not challenging the limits of the royal institution, the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) said in its weekly sermon today.
Amid the current debate surrounding the limits of the sultan in state administrative affairs, Jakim stressed that upholding the institution of Malaysia’s constitutional monarchy strengthens the country’s identity as a “Malay-Muslim kingdom”.
“Maintaining the institution of Malay Rulers in this country is a continuation of maintaining the identity of a Malay-Muslim kingdom here… this institution is the source of the strength for the people and is where they seek shelter, justice and show loyalty and love,” said the sermon prepared by Jakim for mosques nationwide.
The Johor government is expected to table an enactment in the state legislative assembly at its next sitting, to form a housing and real property board that will give the Johor sultan the power to appoint the board members, dissolve the board and oversee its accounts.
The Johor Housing and Real Property Board Bill 2014 reportedly aims to create a board that will undertake and promote the development of real property and housing in Johor.
In a front-page report today, Umno-backed Malay broadsheet Utusan Malaysia highlighted the bid to return more administrative power to the Johor sultanate, under the heading: “Wajarkah?”, which translates to “Is it right?”
News portal Malaysiakini had previously reported the bill also aims to empower the sultan to determine the remuneration of board members, to approve the appointment of a director, and to pass the estimated expenses for each following year before submitting for the state government’s approval for the allocations.
Quoting law expert Abdul Aziz Bari, Utusan Malaysia reported that empowering the Johor sultan to get involved in state administration is not in line with the country’s constitutional monarchy system.
Abdul Aziz, a former lecturer at the International Islamic University, was also reported as saying that it is the government that is responsible for all state administrative matters, except for religious affairs.
While Jakim’s sermon did not specifically refer to the Johor Sultan, it reminded Muslims to be loyal and respectful of the country’s rulers and their position.
The sermon blamed creeping liberal and pluralistic ideas as the cause for challenging the Sultan, and that this was also an affront to Islam’s position as the religion of the federation.
“Do not sacrifice our dignity, religion and race for the private interests and ideologies of a few.
“Of late, we see that there are concerted efforts made which challenge and threaten Islam’s position and the freedom that is allowed by Islam…it is not only pushed by certain groups in the country by new media but also has support from like-minded people on the international level,” the sermon added.
Propagandic teachings of pluralism and liberalism and now “hedonism” are on the rise in Muslim countries, through movements which claim to fight in the name of “human rights” and “anti-discrimination”, Jakim claimed.
The sermon said that because of this, Muslims were deviating from the true teachings of Islam and are unable to distinguish between what is acceptable in Islam and what is not.
“Unite with a sincere heart and hold on to the faith and precepts of the true Islam,” the sermon said, adding that unflinching loyalty to the country’s Rulers and unquestionable acceptance of Islam is the only in which peace and stability in Malaysia can be maintained.
Jakim has repeatedly alleged of an international conspiracy by “enemies of Islam” to manipulate and to confuse Muslims into leaving their faith, most often through ideas like secularism, pluralism, socialism, feminism, and positivism.