Selangor Sultan Revokes Controversial Preacher's Teaching Credentials Over "Racist" Speech
Selangor is now the second state to take action against Zamihan Mat Zin after Johor.
By Samantha Khor — 16 Oct 2017, 06:34 PM
The Sultan of Selangor has revoked Zamihan Mat Zin's religious teaching accreditation following the uproar resulting from the religious preacher's allegedly disparaging speech against the Sultan of Johor
In a press statement delivered via the Secretary Council of the Royal Court, the Sultan also removed Zamihan from the state committee that's in charge of vetting religious preachers.
In the press statement, the Sultan of Selangor described Zamihan's speech as "racist, ill-mannered, and an extreme criticism of the royal institution"
"In addition, his religious speech was delivered in a royal mosque, where such lectures should not have taken place," he added.
The Sultan also announced two new measures to protect the image of Islam that also emphasises the importance of community welfare as a whole
(i) All religious talks in mosques and suraus in Selangor to be recorded for content monitoring purposes.
(ii) The use of speakers for religious lectures should be limited within the vicinity of the mosque compound, except for the *azan* (call to prayer) and Quranic recitations.
"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," the statement added.
Zamihan, who is also a JAKIM officer, made headlines last week after criticising the Sultan of Johor's ultimatum to a Muslim-only laundrette in Muar and making derogatory remarks about the hygiene of Chinese Malaysians
Zamihan had criticised the Sultan of Johor for giving an ultimatum to the laundrette to close down or abolish its Muslim-only policy, adding that Chinese people are unhygienic and that they should patronise other "normal" laundrettes instead.
The remarks were made during a lecture at the Masjid Diraja Tengku Ampuan Jemaah in Bukit Jelutong, Shah Alam on 7 October.
The preacher was arrested and probed for sedition on Wednesday, 12 October but has since been released. He is also temporarily banned from giving lectures in Selangor's mosques and suraus.