In harmony: Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah with Tengku Permaisuri Selangor Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin and other leaders joining in the tossing of Yee Sang at Fo Guang Shan Dong Zen Temple in Jenjarom during the recent Selangor Chinese New Year Celebration 2025. — SHAARI CHEMAT/The Star
THE senior Malay Rulers have again risen the occasion, assuring rational Malaysians that they play a crucial and significant role in ensuring religious moderation in this country.
It is most unfortunate that many of our politicians prefer to play safe by remaining silent or make things worse by stoking negative religious and racial narratives when it comes to controversial issues. Both these approaches do not help Malaysia.
Thus it is most encouraging that the Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah spoke up against the proposed guidelines for Muslims attending non-Muslim events, which would have affected his state if eventually adopted.
His Royal Highness said the proposals created uneasiness among the people and disrupted harmony at a time when Malaysians were striving to strengthen national unity.
To walk the talk, the Selangor Ruler attended Chinese New Year celebrations at the Fo Guang Shan Dong Zen Temple in Jenjarom, Selangor. When he signed the commemorative plaque at the temple, Tuanku was flanked by monks and guests.
In a statement released hours before the visit, the Ruler said he believed Muslims were aware of the religious boundaries of their faith and would not be easily influenced as they could discern between good and bad.
Most Malaysians, regardless of their faith, would ensure that their fellow Malaysians would feel comfortable when serving food or drinks at festivals.
It is a given that non-Muslims would ensure that food for Muslims adhere to halal standards while beef is kept away to ensure Hindus can join in and enjoy the food, for example.
Two years ago, His Royal Highness and his son, Raja Muda Tengku Amir Shah, visited the house of the Bishop of the Anglican Church in Sarawak and Brunei, the Right Reverend Datuk Danald Jute. A series of photos were posted showing Sultan Sharafuddin touring the historic Bishop’s House including the library and the chapel. This was widely reported in the Sarawak media.
In 2022, the then Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustaffa Billah Shah and Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Hajjah Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah attended the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II at London’s Westminster Abbey, together with other Muslim leaders.
We ordinary people have always attended funerals or wakes to bid goodbye to people we have known – friends, colleagues, or family members.
It’s the decent and proper thing to do as human beings. We do not expect Muslims to take part in non-Muslim rituals, and vice-versa at such moments.
As a Christian, I have politely declined to use the joss sticks at wakes of Taoists but I bowed to show my respect to the deceased. I have also lost count of the number of times I was present at Muslim burials.
No one has questioned the presence of Muslims at non-Muslim festivals, including religious ones, but for sure they are not expected to take part in rituals, which would be wrong.
In 2023, the Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, attended a luncheon in conjunction with Thaipusam at the Arulmigu Sri Bala Subramaniar Temple in Skudai, Johor.
The post on his Facebook included photos showing the Ruler being welcomed by a huge crowd of devotees at the temple and garlanded by a member of the temple committee.
Just before that, the Johor Islamic religious committee issued a fatwa prohibiting Muslims from attending and taking part in religious rituals of other faiths in the state.
The committee said Sultan Ibrahim had consented to the fatwa, which came into effect on Feb 2. Later the same day, the Ruler said the fatwa did not conflict with interfaith values of tolerance, unity, and understanding as espoused under the “Bangsa Johor” concept.
He clarified that it only prohibits Muslims from taking part in rituals of other religions “but they can still attend festive events of other faiths’’.
Sultan Ibrahim has also in the past attended the annual Chingay procession of the century-old Johor Ancient Temple, which is part of the Chinese New Year celebrations in the state.
The Chingay parade has been a cultural event of the Chinese community in Johor since 1870, and has become one of the symbols of the Bangsa Johor spirit that celebrates the diversity of religions and cultures in the state.
The Sultan of Perak has also consistently spoken about the middle path of moderation in Islam. Sultan Nazrin Shah has said that efforts to foster unity have become even more critical now to counter voices that provoke the people’s emotions in the name of ethnicity or religion, adding that voices that fuel hostility, if left unchecked, had the potential to poison the minds of the people, leading to conflicts, frictions, and divisions.
“After almost 66 years of gaining independence, it is crucial for citizens not to be swayed by hostile voices that can cause disputes,’’ HRH said in a lecture in 2023.
Most politicians have let Malaysians down, allowing political theologians to become an increasingly divisive force, using religion to justify their agenda.
Only our Rulers can tell them off. They are the heads of Islam in their respective states, and their role empowers them to oversee Islamic affairs, ensuring that religious practices and policies align with the principles of moderation and harmony.
Their authority helps prevent extremist interpretations of Islam from gaining traction, as they can influence religious institutions and policies.
Malaysians, especially non-Muslims, regard the Rulers as unifying figures who transcend political and ethnic divisions. Their involvement in religious matters has helped maintain a balanced approach, ensuring that Islam is practised in a way that promotes national unity and social cohesion.
By consistently advocating for moderation, as Sultan Nazrin has done, they help bridge differences between various religious and ethnic groups in multicultural Malaysia.
Whether it is through their speeches, statements, or mere presence at events hosted by the other faiths, the Malay Rulers play a critical role in promoting a moderate and progressive understanding of Islam.
Their constant pronouncements against radical ideologies and emphasis on the importance of peace, tolerance, and mutual respect helps to counteract the spread of extremist narratives that could threaten Malaysia’s social harmony.
While many would like to see more Rulers speaking up, it is sufficiently comforting that the key Rulers have helped maintain a balanced and harmonious approach to Islam, which is essential for Malaysia’s diverse and pluralistic society.
It is common sense that we want to see more Malaysians of various races, religions, and cultures come together and appreciate our differences and similarities, and not find ways to keep us away from each other.
