JOHOR’S Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar’s blistering condemnation of the owner of a Muslim-only laundrette in the state’s royal town of Muar has gained him the praise of CIMB group chairman Nazir Razak and other social media users.

Sultan Ibrahim had labelled the launderette policy as “unacceptable as it was extremist in nature”, and has threatened the owners with a revocation of their licence if they did not extend their business to non-Muslims as well.

“Now, that is leadership. The social fabric of our multicultural nation is under attack, so it is such a relief to hear His Majesty’s firm and clear voice,” Nazir wrote on his Instagram account today.

“No hedging, no politics,” wrote the younger brother of Prime Minister Najib Razak.

Najib has not issued any statement on the controversy, which was sparked when a photograph of a sign placed outside the launderette stating that only Muslims were allowed to use the washing machines went viral.

In a fiery response, Sultan Ibrahim said Johor was not a “Taliban” state, and that the launderette owner was “sick” and was welcome to close shop and move to Afghanistan, the birthplace of the hard-line Islamic movement.

Other social media lauded Sultan Ibrahim for speaking up for Malaysia’s unity and harmony.

On Twitter, aruna‏ (@imfsea_aruna) said if all states had rulers like Sultan Ibrahim, there would be no religious and racial polarisation and extremism.

“What a shame! The Umno-BN government did nothing to condemn and close this ‘dirty laundry’ but HM Sultan of Johore did it for the rakyat,” he tweeted.

E.S. Shankar‏ (@esshankar1) also slammed the government for saying nothing on the issue that had sparked a major controversy in the country and made international news.

“Bravo HRH Johor! The Sultan has spoken up where @PMOMalaysia Najib, @JamilKhir_myg & govt of thieves has no balls to do the right thing,” he said.

Jeffrey FK Phang wrote on Facebook that Sultan Ibrahim has set the context for a moderate state.

“Other states are not so lucky, leaders do not speak up. In silence they condoned the fundamentalist and extremist making our society regress,” he said.

Another Facebook user Pilocarpine commented: “Divisive mindsets, Talibanisation and overtones to misuse and abuse religion for personal gain have no place in Johor, and by extension, the whole Malaysia.

“Thank you, Sultan for the brutal rebuttal to this fiasco.”

On Facebook, Perlis mufti Dr Mohd Asri Zainal Abidin, who had previously criticised the Muslim-only laundrette, also reacted to the sultan’s order with a one-liner: “We need to be moderate and progressive…”

Sultan Ibrahim had said that he has ordered the state executive council and all local councils in Johor to revoke the licence of any business carrying out such “blatant discriminatory practices”.

When the controversy started, the launderette owner defended himself, claiming that he was not a racist and was merely doing his duty as a Muslim. Some also saw no wrong in his discriminatory business plan.

Johor Islamic Council adviser Nooh Gadut was quoted as saying Muslims and non-Muslims must ensure that their laundry is not mixed with “najis mughallazah” or faeces of pigs and dogs. – September 27, 2017.