Sultan Ibrahim decrees JAIJ to stop dealing with Jakim following Zamihan video (Updated)

PETALING JAYA: Johor's Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar has criticised controversial preacher Zamihan Mat Zin and decreed the Johor Islamic Religious Department (JAIJ) to stop its dealings with the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) in relation to his remarks.

Posted on 14 October 2017 - 06:14pm
Last updated on 15 October 2017 - 12:05pm

Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar

"I take him (Zamihan) as an empty vessel without brains," His Majesty said in his speech at Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia's (UTHM) 17th convocation ceremony at Batu Pahat, today.

His response came after Zamihan, believed to be a former Jakim officer, had criticised Sultan Ibrahim over the case of a Muslim-only launderette in Muar.

The Johor ruler pointed out that Zamihan was critical of his actions as well as the muftis following their views on the matter.

His Majesty also labelled him a liar for attempting to deny his actions following public outcry.

"It appears that the ustaz is good at lying. How are we to learn from him then?

"After this, just preach in front of a mirror to learn about yourself.

"If he is truly a Jakim preacher, I have no idea where they picked him from and after this, I will direct JAIJ not to waste their time with Jakim," His Majesty added.

A video which has since gone viral had shown Zamihan rebuking a "Sultan" for his statement on the Muslim-friendly laundrette which, according to him, had only made the issue bigger.

The video, which had been republished by several media organisations, had also shown Zamihan taking a hit at the Chinese community, deeming them dirty as they do not wash up after urinating or defecating.

In an immediate response, Deputy Home Minister Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed said the ministry would probe the matter and take immediate action over the speech.

Zamihan in a statement, last Wednesday, said it was impossible for him to utter words degrading or insulting Sultan Ibrahim, but added that he seeks forgiveness if his words had offended the Sultan.

Meanwhile, the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) director-general Tan Sri Othman Mustapha will be seeking an audience with the Johor Sultan following his Majesty's decree to the Johor Islamic Religious Department (JAIJ) to stop its dealings with the national religious body.

In a brief statement, today, Othman said while he respects the decree issued by His Majesty, he along with Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom will immediately request to seek an audience with the Johor Ruler to clarify the issue involving controversial preacher Zamihan Mat Zin.

The preacher was remanded for two days from Thursday in connection with sedition investigations over his speech and was released today.

http://www.thesundaily.my/news/2017/10/15/sultan-ibrahim-decrees-jaij-stop-dealing-jakim-following-zamihan-video-updated

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Know your constitutional rights as citizens

MOST Malaysians are unaware of their rights as citizens of this country. They simply accept as gospel all the pronouncements concerning their rights and restrictions by the authorities.

Posted on 9 October 2017 - 07:23pm
Last updated on 9 October 2017 - 07:40pm

Mohamed Ghouse Nasuruddin and Azeem Fazwan Ahmad Farouk

Citizens' rights are enshrined in the Constitution as well as in the Native Customary Laws and in the Syariah for Muslims. They are regulatory principles based on the precepts of justice, as mechanisms to govern individual and communal behaviour and interactions.

The Legislature, one of the three branches of governance, besides the Executive and Judiciary, is the august body made up of people's representatives that formulates and amends the Constitution from time to time to suit the prevailing circumstances. Amendments are made by way of a two-thirds majority, in the interest of justice and not based on the tyranny of the majority to effect sectarian ­advantage.

Various instruments of governance are emplaced to ensure that citizens' rights are not violated. The Judiciary is the supreme institution that oversees such issues in addition to criminal and civil matters.

Judicial review is an integral part of ensuring respect and observance of citizens' rights. A judiciary that acts as a check and balance of executive powers can ensure that the citizens' constitutional rights are not violated. A citizen can initiate due process to reclaim his or her rights, but the courts are the ultimate arbiter. Thus, courts that are impervious to extraneous influence are a prerequisite for the rightful observance of citizens' rights.

But this is not always the case for political expediency may result in the manipulation of the various instruments of governance to deny the citizens' lawful rights. Therefore, the citizens may not have recourse to these institutions that are supposed to protect their rights because these instruments of governance by virtue of their establishment are subservient to the dictates of the Executive.

Citizens are easily intimidated because of their ignorance and tend to accept the directives from the authorities as gospel and sacrosanct.

A case in point is the Sabah and Sarawak immigration control, which is part of the 20-point agreement in joining Malaysia. But this immigration control has been used to deny access to Malaysians from West Malaysia on innocent passage to discharge their constitutionally sanctioned political activities on the spurious grounds of posing as security risks.

In fact, the intention of immigration control is regulatory and not envisaged as punitive restriction. With proper documents, one should be able to move freely in these two states without unwarranted restrictions. The irony is that Malaysians from Sabah and Sarawak have unrestricted access to all the facilities and are free to work and stay in Peninsular Malaysia.

Then there is the right of individuals to undertake legally sanctioned business enterprises and are free to operate in a manner they see fit. As long as they comply with the licensing requirements they should not be coerced to submit to extraneous untoward non-business demands.

On the same vein, a citizen's right of domicile is irrevocable except on grounds of criminal or security related activities. In such cases he would be incarcerated or exiled to other parts of the country as the court deems fit.

But for the law-abiding citizen, he or she cannot be evicted from the state in which he is domiciled by anyone, even by those from the highest echelons of society. It is his/her constitutional right to live in the state of his/her choice.

Freedom of expression and the right to dissent have long been contentious issues between citizens and officialdom. The right to express one's ideas or thoughts in a written, verbal or visual format is circumscribed by various legislative measures such as the Seditious Act, the Official Secret Acts and the Police Act in Conformity with prevailing political sentiments.

An informed citizenry is crucial to ensure that its rights be given credence and due respect so that it could act as a check and balance in ensuring good governance and the protection of its constitutional rights.

Professor Emeritus Datuk Dr Mohamed Ghouse Nasuruddin is an honorary fellow at the Centre for Policy Research and International Studies (CenPRIS) and Associate Professor Dr Azeem Fazwan Ahmad Farouk is director at the Centre for Policy Research and International Studies, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang

http://www.thesundaily.my/news/2017/10/09/know-your-constitutional-rights-citizens

Zamihan has a history of targeting Christians, moderate Muslims

PETALING JAYA: The Muslim preacher Zamihan Mat Zin, who has been arrested in a sedition probe for remarks he made against a Malay ruler, has a track record of targeting Christians and those he labels “liberal” or “moderate” Muslims.

Wednesday, 11 Oct 2017

Most of his statements can be found in a series of video clips uploaded to the “OnLine Majlis Ilmu” YouTube channel, which has more than 27,000 subscribers.

He has trained his eye on other, more moderate Islamic non-governmental organisations like Sisters in Islam as well.

In one video, uploaded in April, he labelled lawyer and activist Siti Kassim an apostate.

He said this was because Christians were “kafirs” (infidels).

“How can we wish them (Merry Christmas)?” he said.

The Pertubuhan Ahli Sunnah Wal Jamaah Malaysia (Aswaja) president seemed aware of the incendiary nature of his statements, adding that “Let them call us racists.

“We are crude and tough on this matter because this is about akidah (creed),” he added.

Zamihan also trained his barbs on moderate Muslims, urging the audience in his YouTube channel to not follow the teachings of moderate Islam, which he labelled as “narrow”.

“This is about akidah. Festive celebrations cannot be underestimated at all. Do not follow those who practise ‘narrow’ religions, and those who simply issue fatwas.

“They don’t even know a thing about Christians, and they want to say that ‘It's okay, we are a pluralistic, multiracial and multi-ethnic country, so we must be open’,” he added.

Zamihan was under investigation after he had allegedly said, in a more recent video, that it was wrong of Johor Ruler Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar to prohibit a Muslim-only laundrette from operating in the state.

In the same video, he described Chinese people as being “unhygienic”.

This came after the Johor Sultan said he was unhappy with a “Muslim-only” launderette operating in the state.

In an exclusive report by The Star on Sept 27, His Majesty said: "I cannot accept this nonsense. This is Johor, which belongs to Bangsa Johor and it belongs to all races and faiths. This is a progressive, modern and moderate state."

The owner of the launderette later apologised for his actions and opened his door to all customers.

On Sept 28, the Raja Muda of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra Jamalullai, visited a similar launderette in Kangar with his mufti Datuk Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin to tell its owner why his business model was not acceptable.

The 36-year-old owner then opened his outlet to all customers, too.

In a statement on Wednesday, Zamihan said he would take legal action against news portals if they do not retract and apologise for their articles over the video, claiming he never mentioned the name of the Johor Sultan in his recent video and neither did he use any abusive or seditious words.

He said that he would give a number of news portals, as well as former minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim, seven days to retract their articles and to publicly apologise to him.

“If they fail to do so, I will take legal action against them for defaming me without prejudice," Zamihan added.

The Home Ministry on Tuesday said that it would also be investigating Zamihan over the viral video.

He was arrested later on Wednesday.

Read more at http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2017/10/11/zamihan-has-a-history-of-targeting-christians-and-moderate-muslims/