Days after NYT video of jihadist from Kedah madrassah, Sultan speaks out against militant violence.
FMT
ALOR STAR: The Sultan of Kedah, on his official birthday today, spoke out against religious extremism which has resulted in Muslims being lured into joining jihadist movements in foreign countries.
Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah, who turned 87, said it was a sin for Muslims to murder fellow Muslims, totally contradicting true Islamic teachings that propagate peace.
His speech came days after the New York Times published a video about religious teacher Mohd Lotfi Ariffinat who left for Syria, to join jihadists fighting President Bashar al-Assad in Syria.
The New York Times said Mohd Lotfi, 46, was one of a few dozen Malaysians who have joined militant rebel groups in Syria, including the Islamic State.
It quoted Malaysia’s counter-terrorism official Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay as saying: “It’s easy and it’s more organised there. You can join any group that you want there.”
A New York Times video follows the path taken by Lotfi, as documented on his Facebook postings, from Kuala Ketil to Syria, where he sought martyrdom. The Facebook pages have since been taken down.
Malaysian security officials have also reported that some Malaysians had taken personal loans or sold off their property in order to join the militant Islamic groups.
The Sultan, in his speech at an investiture ceremony, condemned the action of Malaysian Muslims in going to war.
“These so called jihadists’ action in killing fellow Muslims is a sin, as pointed out in the Al Quran. Repent and return to the true Islamic teachings which embrace peace,” he said at Istana Anak Bukit, quoted by the New Straits Times.
He urged parents to closely monitor their children to prevent them from being influenced by “ideologies which contradict true Islamic teachings”. The Sultan’s speech was read by Kedah Regency Council chairman Tunku Sallehuddin Sultan Badlishah, as the Sultan is currently serving his second term as Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
The Sultan also spoke about inter-racial and religious harmony being compromised by those abusing the freedom of speech, and said “it is obvious that the Federal Constitution was formulated to prevent conflict among the rakyat. If the rakyat loves peace and stability like I do, use the freedom wisely,” he said.
His remarks about free speech come a week after civil liberties lawyer Eric Paulsen was arrested under the Sedition Act for criticising Jakim, the Islamic affairs department. Jakim and the police said Paulsen had “insulted Islam” by criticising the department.
In other remarks in the royal speech, which is usually drafted by the state government, the Sultan also hoped that the federal government would approve the Kedah government’s proposal for an international airport in Kulim. The airport project, initiated by menteri besar Mukhriz Mahathir, has been opposed by the Penang state government, which sees it as a threat to the state’s progress.
SEE ALSO: The Jihadist in Our Family – New York Times
ALOR STAR: The Sultan of Kedah, on his official birthday today, spoke out against religious extremism which has resulted in Muslims being lured into joining jihadist movements in foreign countries.
Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah, who turned 87, said it was a sin for Muslims to murder fellow Muslims, totally contradicting true Islamic teachings that propagate peace.
His speech came days after the New York Times published a video about religious teacher Mohd Lotfi Ariffinat who left for Syria, to join jihadists fighting President Bashar al-Assad in Syria.
The New York Times said Mohd Lotfi, 46, was one of a few dozen Malaysians who have joined militant rebel groups in Syria, including the Islamic State.
It quoted Malaysia’s counter-terrorism official Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay as saying: “It’s easy and it’s more organised there. You can join any group that you want there.”
A New York Times video follows the path taken by Lotfi, as documented on his Facebook postings, from Kuala Ketil to Syria, where he sought martyrdom. The Facebook pages have since been taken down.
Malaysian security officials have also reported that some Malaysians had taken personal loans or sold off their property in order to join the militant Islamic groups.
The Sultan, in his speech at an investiture ceremony, condemned the action of Malaysian Muslims in going to war.
“These so called jihadists’ action in killing fellow Muslims is a sin, as pointed out in the Al Quran. Repent and return to the true Islamic teachings which embrace peace,” he said at Istana Anak Bukit, quoted by the New Straits Times.
He urged parents to closely monitor their children to prevent them from being influenced by “ideologies which contradict true Islamic teachings”. The Sultan’s speech was read by Kedah Regency Council chairman Tunku Sallehuddin Sultan Badlishah, as the Sultan is currently serving his second term as Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
The Sultan also spoke about inter-racial and religious harmony being compromised by those abusing the freedom of speech, and said “it is obvious that the Federal Constitution was formulated to prevent conflict among the rakyat. If the rakyat loves peace and stability like I do, use the freedom wisely,” he said.
His remarks about free speech come a week after civil liberties lawyer Eric Paulsen was arrested under the Sedition Act for criticising Jakim, the Islamic affairs department. Jakim and the police said Paulsen had “insulted Islam” by criticising the department.
In other remarks in the royal speech, which is usually drafted by the state government, the Sultan also hoped that the federal government would approve the Kedah government’s proposal for an international airport in Kulim. The airport project, initiated by menteri besar Mukhriz Mahathir, has been opposed by the Penang state government, which sees it as a threat to the state’s progress.
SEE ALSO: The Jihadist in Our Family – New York Times
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