KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Ahli Sunnah Waljamaah Organisation (Aswaja) president Zamihan Mat Zin today said he will comply with the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah's order to strip him of his teaching credentials in the state.
As a citizen who upholds the royal institution, he said he understood the Sultan's order and apologised for the trouble caused.
“I am aware of the order to strip me of my teaching credentials in Selangor as decreed by the Sultan. I comply and accept the decision.
“I also apologise once more to the Sultan if he was offended by my sermon at the Masjid Diraja (Royal Mosque). As an ordinary 'rakyat', I had no intention of insulting the royal institution other than preaching the Islamic teachings and explaining rulings of Islam,” he said.
Zamihan added that he will respect Sultan Sharafuddin's decision as a head of religious affairs.
He said he would continue serving through other acceptable means and in other areas, pointing out that the struggle to uphold Islam would not stop until Judgement Day.
“I also urge other parties to stop pitting people against each other but focus on repelling threats and deceit by groups such as Wahhabi, Syiah, liberals and other misguided groups trying to ruin Islam.
“These groups enjoy it when Muslims fight among themselves and are divided.” he said in a statement.
Zamihan was arrested on Oct 11 after speaking out against a decree by the Sultan of Johor on the Muar launderette issue in a mosque in Selangor.
Following this, Sultan Sharafuddin ordered the state Islamic Religious Council to strip Zamihan of his teaching credentials as well as his Selangor Credentials Committee membership.
According to a statement from the Selangor Council of the Royal Court on behalf of the Sultan, the sermon given by Zamihan contained words which were racist in nature, uncouth and included uncalled for criticism of the royal institution.
On Sunday, Zamihan, who was arrested under Section 4 (1) of the Sedition Act 1948, was released on bail.