Jakim warns against insulting leaders

KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysia’s federal Islamic authority has waded into the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) controversy, releasing a nationwide sermon today (July 8) warning Muslims against maligning and insulting the country and its leaders. 

In its Friday sermon commemorating Warriors’ Day, the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) claimed that those who commit such acts are allegedly victims of foreign powers that are trying to tarnish the dignity and prestige of Malaysia’s leadership. 

Warriors’ Day is celebrated as a day of remembrance in Malaysia for servicemen who were killed during the two world wars and the Malayan Emergency.

“Lately, there are some (people) who are irresponsible and do not love their country, until they try to sow chaos, light the fire of enmity, slandering, willing to insult the leadership and country, uttering impolite words and so on,” said the sermon, which was distributed to mosques nationwide.

According to Jakim, such acts reflect the “uncivilised” group’s low morals and lack of integrity, which it said can endanger the safety of the country and its citizens.

“This effort to topple the country and commit treason against the leaders and peace is not an act of those who love Islam,” it added.

The sermon also urged Muslims to stop fanning the fires of disunity to prevent a split in the country.

Jakim also warned Malaysians against disputing the Federal Constitution.

Later in the day, Prime Minister Najib Razak urged Malaysians not to put their faith in Internet rumours that may have been manipulated by “foreigners” in an attempt to influence the direction of the country’s leadership.

The Malaysian government has spoken of an alleged conspiracy to topple Mr Najib using corruption allegations linked to state investment firm 1MDB. 

The firm is more than RM42 billion (S$15 billion) in debt and being probed by a bipartisan Public Accounts Committee. 

Last month, The Wall Street Journal published several reports alleging that up to RM700 million has been transferred from 1MDB linked companies to Mr Najib’s personal accounts.

Government officials claimed today that the publication of purported charge sheets obtained by a whistleblower website allegedly prepared by former Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail against the prime minister was evidence of the conspiracy’s existence.

Newly-appointed Attorney-General Apandi Ali has said that the purported documents were false, and corroborated Putrajaya’s claim of a conspiracy to topple the prime minister.

Separately, public concerns over alleged attempts to derail the 1MDB probe intensified this week after a sudden Cabinet reshuffle on Tuesday, which saw Mr Muhyiddin Yassin dropped as deputy prime minister following his criticism of Putrajaya’s handling of 1MDB.

The same day also saw the abrupt replacement of Mr Abdul Gani as the Attorney General, who had been a member of a multi-agency special taskforce investigating 1MDB. AGENCIES