WITH Selangor Ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah issuing a decree that the Japanese Bon Odori festival must proceed in Shah Alam as planned, netizens took to social media to laud the monarch.
Leading the chorus of praise was former law minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim.
(Lucky for us that we have Sultan Sharafudin. If not, not only Bon Odori will get banned but we will end up being a Taliban nation. Our Rulers are the heads of Islam the country. So, why do we need an Islamic affairs minister from PAS again?
User Izy added: “You know you screwed up badly when even the sultan ask JAIS to attend the event and make some sense out of it.”
Netizen Nur Ayu Abdullah retorted:
Yesterday, the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) said that Sultan Sharafuddin told the Islamic body to allow the Bon Odori festival to continue as scheduled and told them not to obstruct anyone from attending it either.
Jais director Datuk Mohd Shahzihan Ahmad said the Ruler has made his stand clear on the matter. Also present in the meeting was representatives from the Shah Alam City Council (MBSA).
It was also reported that Sultan Sharafuddin had decreed for officers from Jais and MBSA to attend the festival and see for themselves on what takes place there.
“His Majesty is of the opinion that there are many cultures that have links with religion, but it is not necessarily so that the religion (aspect) is present in the culture.
“The Ruler also stressed that the act of worship is different from the act of observation,” The Malay Mail Online reported Shahzihan as saying.
Return Islamic administration to Rulers
Two days ago, Bernama reported Islamic affairs minister Idris Ahmad as reminding Muslims to stay away from the Japanese summer festival, alleging that the celebration is “influenced by elements of other religions”.
Idris also said that a study conducted by conducted by the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) had confirmed the matter.
“Therefore, we are advising the Muslims not to participate in the festival or any other programmes that are against their faith and creed,” he was reported as saying.
On that note, lawyer-activist Siti Kasim said that the Bon Odori controversy stirred by religious extremists showed how important it was to return Islamic management back to the Rulers.
Netizen Wenjie Loh remarked:
(Idris and the Penang mufti made so much noise over something they have no knowledge about. Now, both of them can keep quiet) – June 9, 2022
