THE Sultan of Johor has banned two Muslim preachers, Ismail Menk and Ustaz Haslin Baharim from preaching in the state following Singapore’s move to bar both religious teachers from entering the city state, Berita Harian reports.

Johor Islamic Religious Affairs Committee chairman Abd Mutalip Abd Rahim said Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar issued the decree today, the Malay daily reported.

“The contents of their ceramah can be seen as causing unease in race relations.

“The Johor religious department will continue to monitor the ceramah preached in the state to ensure that elements or views promoting discord among the races are not preached,” Berita Harian quoted Abd Mutalip as saying.

The ruler’s decree follows Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s statement yesterday that Malaysia had no issues with the two preachers, who would be allowed to continue giving religious talks here.

Singapore’s Ministry of Home Affairs on Monday said it had barred the two preachers, popularly known as Mufti Menk and Ustaz Bollywood respectively, from entering the country and from preaching abroad Islamic-themed cruise ships.

Menk is Zimbabwean and Haslin is Malaysian.

The pair had earlier applied to preach in the city-state but their applications were rejected. However, authorities later learned they planned to preach aboard cruise ships in late November.

Mufti Menk, “has been known to preach segregationist and divisive teachings” while the other, Haslin Baharim, “has expressed views that promote disharmony between Muslims and non-Muslims”, the republic’s home ministry had said. – November 1, 2017.