Tag: Sultan Ibrahim

Sultan Johor To Malays: Stop Trying To Be Arabs

he Sultan of Johor has called on Malays not to discard their unique culture, saying he was disturbed by those who want to stop Muslims from the salam practice despite it being a traditional way of greeting each other.

Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar said he was sticking to “my customs and traditions as a Malay because I’m born Malay.”

“If there are some of you who wish to be an Arab and practise Arab culture, and do not wish to follow our Malay customs and traditions, that is up to you.

“I also welcome you to live in Saudi Arabia.

“That is your right but I believe there are Malays who are proud of the Malay culture. At least I am real and not a hypocrite and the people of Johor know who their ruler is,” he said.

He said, for example, he preferred to use terms like Hari Raya instead of Eid al-Fitr, or buka puasa instead of iftar.

“I have been using these Malay terms since I was a child and speaking to my late father for the past 50 years.

“I have no intention of replacing these terms with Arabic,” he said.

His Royal Highness said religious faith was not based on external criteria such as clothing to display one’s relationship with God, saying “what is in the heart and mind is more important.”

He stressed that it was wrong to judge someone.

“God will judge you. If you want to advise someone, then call them to the side and whisper, do not embarrass them,” he added.

Sultan Ibrahim said that during his annual Kembara Mahkota, he shook the hands of thousands of people including women.

“Why must I change? You do not have to be fanatic. If they (women) are not sure, I ask if they want to shake my hands. If they do not want to shake my hands, there is no problem,” he added.

Asked to comment on the recent controversy where Crown Prince Tunku Ismail was criticised by those on social media for shaking hands with JDT player Mohd Safiq Rahim’s wife, Sultan Ibrahim said that she approached him.

“He only extended his hand out. Why criticise? I am sure this is the work of some sour grapes from other places who are jealous of JDT football team,” he added.

Sultan Ibrahim said that this was the Johor way and his message to those who did not want to shake his hands is to simply stay away.

Soon after the incident, Tunku Ismail posted a video on Facebook which showed him shaking hands, in a satirical way, with two women with an oversized glove.

Sultan Ibrahim also expressed his displeasure at the Batu Pahat Public Works Department (JKR) for recently putting up a notice reminding Muslim women about the sin of not covering their hair, which was mounted on a signboard along a road here.

“This is wrong. This is not their role. Since when is JKR involved in this?” he asked.

State Public Works, Rural and Regional Development committee chairman Datuk Hasni Mohammad later said the officer in charge of the matter was directed to take down the notice.

“Since when is JKR, whether at state or district level, being put in charge of religious matters? Their main job is to make sure the roads are properly maintained and not worry about women’s hair,” Sultan Ibrahim said.

The Sultan said he had confidence and faith in Malaysians because the majority of them were decent and religious people.

Likewise, he said that “it is not the business of government departments to worry about people’s dressing. Just do what you are paid to do and mind your own business”.

On a recent meeting with religious groups in UAE, Sultan Ibrahim said the Arabs were becoming more open nowadays.

“They are opening up. Previously women in Saudi Arabia were not allowed to drive but they are gradually allowing it. Some women are even joining politics,” he said, adding that the situation was also the same in Iran.

Source: www.thestar.com.my

March 27, 2017
PRC Netizens Irked By Dr Mahathir’s Remarks On Forest City Project, Wants To Boycott Malaysia

BEIJING — Chinese netizens have criticised former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad over his comments that China’s investment in the Forest City property project in Johor Baru is a threat to Malaysian sovereignty.

“Being an old friend for over a decade, Dr Mahathir had turned on China. It’s a big deal,” influential state-run tabloid Global Times quoted netizen yuchundaxianglianzhuli as saying.

“Shall we boycott Malaysia for this?” netizen jiemohu wrote on Sina Weibo.

Writing in his blog, Dr Mahathir had attacked the Forest City project as a “foreign enclave”.

“Much of the most valuable land will now be owned and occupied by foreigners,” noted the 91-year-old, who was current Malaysian premier Najib Razak’s former mentor and now one of his biggest critics.

“In effect, (land occupied by the Forest City initiative) will become foreign land,” Dr Mahathir added.

He also claimed that more than 700,000 Chinese nationals will be brought into Forest City, alleging that the Chinese citizens would be given identity cards to enable them to vote in the coming general election.

The Chinese embassy in Malaysia has criticised Dr Mahathir’s remarks.

In a statement released on its official website, the embassy said: “Somebody applauded Sino-Malaysian relations in office but fanned the flame of anti-Chinese sentiment after.

“We can expose the lie behind claims that Chinese investment is stealing job opportunities from Malaysia.”

Sultan Ibrahim of Johor has also reprimanded Dr Mahathir over his Forest City claims.

“He is giving the impression that Johor is surrendering land to the Chinese and that we are giving up our sovereignty, comparing even how we gave up Singapore to the British, the sultan told The Star.

Sultan Ibrahim also accused Dr Mahathir of fearmongering by playing racial politics that he said had no place in Johor.

Forest City is a US$100 billion (S$143 billion) property development by Chinese firm Country Garden.

The firm has partnered Esplanade Danga 88, an associate company of Kumpulan Prasarana Rakyat Johor, which is the southern state’s investment arm. The largest shareholder of Esplanade Danga 88 is Sultan Ibrahim.

The 1,386ha Forest City encompasses the development of facilities for business, tourism, hotel, residence, services and others, built on four man-made islands in Iskandar Malaysia.

Construction began in February last year and about 8,000 apartments have been sold, the company said.

Source: www.todayonline.com

January 24, 2017
Former Law Professor: Arab Culture Integral To Islam, Johor Sultan Advised

The Johor sultan should realise that Arabic culture and norms are an integral part of Islam, said constitutional law expert Abdul Aziz Bari.

“I think the sultan of Johor should consult the menteri besar or the mufti before shooting from the hip, or else he would embarrass everybody including himself.

“He needs to realise that he is the head of Islamic religion for the state, apart from being the state head.

“There is no question of turning the society into an Arab one; the fact remains that Arabic culture and norms have become an integral part of Islam,” the former law professor said in a statement today.

He was responding to the Johor Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar who had called on Malays to be proud of the Malay culture and not try to emulate Arabic culture.

Abdul Aziz pointed out that the term sultan itself is Arabic and rooted in the Quran.

“Perhaps the sultan of Johor ought now to be thinking of coining a new term to replace the term sultan,” he said.

Arabic term

Noting that Johor was the only state to use the term ‘ahlul hal wal aqdi’ to denote the members of succession council in the Johor Constitution, he also pointed out that it is an Arabic term and that the sultan should also consider replacing it.

Jawi is also an aspect of Arabic culture which the sultan should think about, he said, adding that jawi is very much the culture of Johor as well.

Abdul Aziz also responded to the crown prince of Johor Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, who had recalled the incidents during the 1992 constitutional crisis and reminded the government not to repeat such greed-driven episodes.

It was the prince’s grandfather who presented then Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad with the opportunity to “whack the rulers”, Abdul Aziz remarked.

“Some of the rulers, in fact, complained that they have been embarrassed by the incident provoked by the late Sultan Iskandar, which started with the alleged beating of the Johor state hockey coach,” he said.

Source: www.malaysiakini.com

March 26, 2016
Sultan Johor: Pendakwah Yang Ingin Bereramah Di Johor Perlu Dapat Tauliah

MUAR: Penceramah luar yang ingin berceramah di Johor perlu mendapat tauliah daripada Majlis Agama Islam Negeri Johor (MAINJ) terlebih dahulu sebelum mengadakan ceramah agama di negeri berkenaan.

Sultan Johor Sultan Ibrahim Almarhum Sultan Iskandar berkata walaupun penceramah tersebut bagus kerana pandai berhujah dan sering berceramah di televisyen, namun apabila dia tidak diberi tauliah, pasti ada yang tidak kena dengan pengajarannya.

“Cermin dahulu muka sendiri sebelum nasihat kepada orang lain. Kita akan mengawal mana-mana orang daripada mengajar agama Islam tanpa tauliah kerana ajaran sesat dan ceramah berbaur politik yang menjadi medan untuk mengata, memfitnah dan mencaci orang lain akan hanya mengelirukan masyarakat Islam dan meruntuhkan perpaduan rakyat,” tegas Sultan Ibrahim.

Sultan Ibrahim berkata demikian pada Majlis Perasmian Tilawah al-Quran Peringkat Negeri Johor Ke-60 di Dataran Tanjung Emas, semalam (24 Feb).

“Dalam Perlembagaan Persekutuan, jelas memperuntukkan agama Islam di bawah bidang kuasa negeri dan sultan adalah ketua agama di negeri masing-masing. Dalam Undang-undang Tubuh Kerajaan Johor 1895 diperuntukkan dengan jelas Sultan adalah ketua agama bagi negeri Johor Darul Takzim,” ujar Sultan Ibrahim.

“Tapi sejak kebelakangan ini, ada pihak yang suka mencampuri kuasa agama di negeri-negeri sedangkan mereka hanya mempunyai bidang kuasa di negeri masing-masing,” tambah beliau.

DITUDUH BIDAAH

Menurut Sultan Ibrahim amalan yang sekian lama diamalkan di Johor seperti Maulidur Rasul, bacaan doa awal dan akhir tahun, nisfu syaaban, bacaan Yasin dan tahlil pada malam Jumaat, membaca doa qunut dalam sembahyang subuh, membaca talkin dan sebagainya juga dipertikaikan dan dituduh sebagai bidaah yang membawa kepada balasan neraka di hari kiamat kelak.

“Saya ingin mengingatkan pihak tertentu yang mempunyai pandangan berbeza supaya tidak mencampuri urusan agama di Johor kerana perbuatan itu akan menjadikan umat Islam keliru dan berpecah belah. Umat Islam di Johor tetap dengan pegangan Ahli Sunnah Wal Jamaah,” tegas Sultan Ibrahim.

“Semua negeri mempunyai majlis agama masing-masing yang ada kuasa dan tanggungjawab untuk mengawal selia serta memastikan perjalanan hal ehwal agama Islam di negeri masing-masing supaya berjalan dengan baik, teratur dan harmoni,” tambah beliau.

“Peranan seorang mufti dalam sesebuah negeri adalah untuk mengeluarkan fatwa dan menjelaskan mengenai hukum Islam hanya untuk negeri berkenaan,” kata Sultan Ibrahim.

TIDAK BOLEH HANYA RUJUK KEPADA GOOGLE, YOUTUBE, FACEBOOK SEMATA-MATA

Sultan Ibrahim turut menegaskan al-Quran hendaklah ditafsirkan oleh mereka yang pakar dan mahir dalam bidang tafsir kitab suci itu bagi mengelakkan ia disalah tafsir sewenangnya.

“Kita mestilah belajar dengan guru agama atau alim ulama yang diiktiraf oleh pihak berkuasa agama yang sudah menyiasat latar belakang guru dan penceramah yang betul berdasarkan tauliah yang diberikan,” ujar Sultan Ibrahim.

“Untuk mendalami al-Quran dan ajaran Islam, kita tidak boleh hanya merujuk kepada Google, YouTube dan Facebook semata-mata atau menerima bulat-bulat maklumat yang disebarkan di media social.”

“Memang benar urusan dakwah itu boleh dilakukan sesiapa sahaja, tetapi di Johor ini, kita ada undang-undang untuk mengawal pendakwah yang boleh mengelirukan dan tidak sehaluan dengan cara kita,” tambah beliau.

Source: http://berita.mediacorp.sg

March 4, 2016
Sultan Johor Sultan Ibrahim: No Place For Hatred And Racism In Johor

“Let me reiterate, there is no place for hatred and racism here in Johor Darul Ta’zim. It was never welcomed, nor will I ever welcome haters and racists here in Johor. If anyone who want to practice hatred and racism in Johor Darul Ta’zim, the home of the Malays, Chinese and Indians- Bangsa Johor, please leave Johor immediately. That is an order!

“I have worked hard and struggled for my subjects, to ensure that they live in harmony and togetherness. Anyone found instigating others to hate and practice racism here in Johor, they will face the brunt of the law. Again, let me remind you, my ancestors, the state government, Bangsa Johor and I have worked hand-in-hand…together, to make Johor a better-place, to bring in foreign investors for the future of Johor. Anyone who create disharmony and spread hatred here by promoting racism, will have to deal with me personally. Take this a warning.

“This is not the stone age, do not be ungrateful, the Malays, Chinese and Indians, all played their part, Johor Darul Ta’zim is home to the Malays, Chinese and Indians, they are Bangsa Johor. As their ruler, its my responsibility to see my subjects live in harmony, and my subjects are always my priority.

“To the authorities, do not take soft approach against haters and racists, do not be bias, get to the root of the problem, and apprehend those who create racial disharmony problems here in Johor Darul Ta’zim,”

-Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar’.

***

“Di Johor Darul Ta’zim, tiada tempat dan ruang untuk mereka yang membenci dan mengamalkan sikap perkauman. Mereka yang membenci dan mengamalkan perkauman tidak pernah saya terima di Johor Darul Ta’zim dan tidak mungkin saya menerima mereka. Mereka yang mengamal sikap ini, di nasihatkan supaya keluar dari Johor Darul Ta’zim serta-merta, kerana Johor adalah rumah kepada Bangsa Johor yang terdiri dari Orang Melayu, kaum Cina dan kaum India. Ini adalah satu perintah-jangan amalkan sikap perkauman dan membenci, atau lebih baik tinggalkan Johor.

“Saya telah bertungkus-lumus untuk kepentingan Bangsa Johor dan Negeri Johor, untuk memastikan semua hidup dalam harmoni dan Johor semakin maju. Nenek moyang saya, kerajaan negeri, Bangsa Johor dan saya telah berkerja keras untuk menyatu rakyat Johor dan membawa pelabur asing untuk memajukan negeri Johor. Mereka yang menghasut Bangsa Johor untuk membenci dan mengamal sikap perkauman akan berhadapan dengan tindakan tegas. Sebagai Sultan Johor, amanah saya ialah kepada rakyat saya dan negeri Johor. Rakyat saya adalah keutamaan saya. Mereka ini perlu berhadapan dengan saya, jika perkara membenci, menghasut dan isu perkauman diamalkan di Johor.

“Ini bukan zaman batu, Orang Melayu, kaum Cina dan India, semua telah memainkan peranan masing-masing. Johor adalah rumah kepada semua Bangsa Johor.

“Kepada pihak berkuasa, berkas mereka yang menghasut Bangsa Johor untuk membenci dan mempromosikan perkauman. Jangan pilih kasih, cari jalan penyelesaianya ke akar umbi,”

-Sultan Johor, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar

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Source: Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskanadar

September 16, 2015