MALAYSIANS are wondering if other states would be so bold as to follow the Johor sultan’s lead in cutting off ties with the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim).

Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar decreed that the federal religious authority would no longer advise the Johor Islamic Religious Department after one of Jakim’s officers, Zamihan Mat Zin criticised the sultan’s prohibition of religious segregation, while also mocking the other races in a lecture that has gone viral.

Many Malaysians took to Facebook and Twitter today to praise the sultan for making yet another gutsy move against religious extremism in the interest of interfaith harmony.

Visva Nathan wrote on Facebook: “A ruler with guts and love for rakyat. Daulat Tuanku.”

“Do not count on them – what have they done so far? The Sultan of Johor is the only one with guts, empathy and common sense…” another Facebook user Anita Zainuddin said.

Will other states follow suit?

Well-known human rights lawyer Siti Kasim also lauded the sultan, asking when the other states would do the same.

“Perhaps only the Sultans can save us from the madness we are having with these religious extremists. After all their the Heads of Islam!!” she wrote on Facebook.

Patrick Leong had the same question, writing: “When will the other Sultans follow the footsteps of the Sultan of Johor, who is loved by his subjects of all races?”

(“Entah bila Sultan-Sultan yang lain akan mengikut jejak Sultan Johor yang sayangkan rakyat jelatanya tanpa mengira bangsa ya?”)

Cut Jakim’s budget

Many who agreed with Sultan Ibrahim’s call also felt that Jakim was a waste of money and believed that it would be best to stop funding the department.

On Twitter, aruna‏ (@imfsea_aruna) tweeted that Jakim should be disbanded as it was “a waste of taxpayers’ money.”

E.S. Shankar‏ (@esshankar1) on Twitter shared the same sentiment, saying that the government could save a lot of money by doing away with Jakim.

“We can save $1b a year fm govt budget by retiring JAKIM. It will stop growth of bigots. Let Sultans manage religion in their states!” he tweeted.

Leave religion to the rulers

Some also believe that matters concerning religion should be left to the states, not a federal body; because under the Federal Constitution, states have legislative power over Islamic matters.

“The best way to de-fang Jakim is simply by withdrawing its budget allocation on the basis that religion is a function that appears on the state list and not on the federal list, in accordance to our constitution,” Hasni Hanafi wrote on Facebook.

DAP senator Dr Ariffin Omar wrote on Facebook: “It is time for the sultans to assert their authority over Islamic affairs in their respective states and not allow federal Islamic bodies to usurp their authority.”

Another Facebook user Umar Mukhtar said a lot had been done to make Jakim a central and synthesis institution to unite Islamic administration. 

“By a lot of things, I meant BILLIONS of resources have been spent. And yet all that will be doomed due to insensitivity of a narcissist.

“Guess what? I’m not gonna to panic. At least, Jainj will stop sending/transferring their research and people inquiries to Jakim and other muftis. 

“Let they work on their own resources. Besides, the age of deinstitutionalisation​ is inevitable right?” he wrote.

Some were more cheeky in their response to the sultan’s decision. Mohamad Syafiq Khuzaimie asked how businesses in Johor would now get halal certification.

“From now, Jainj will have to make its own halal stamp for halal food. Don’t use Jakim’s. Hahahaha,” he wrote on Facebook.

Earlier today, Sultan Ibrahim asserted that religion came under state jurisdiction and that Johor religious authority would no longer have dealings with the federal religious body

The royal command came following Wednesday’s arrest of preacher Zamiha, who is now under investigation for sedition over a lecture in which he criticised the sultan’s decree against a Muslim-only launderette in Muar.

In the video of the lecture, Zamihan said it was “not right” to ban such a  launderette.

Sultan Ibrahim said earlier today that Zamihan was arrogant and “an empty tin can with no brains”.

Zamihan, a Prisons Department religious officer who is on secondment from Jakim, has denied his remarks were critical of or insulting to the Johore ruler. He was released from remand today. – October 14, 2017.