4 Perak imams suspended for not reading Friday sermon linked to Razman

4 Perak imams suspended for not reading Friday sermon linked to Razman


Published: Feb 9, 2025 9:12 PM
Updated: 12:20 AM


Summary

• Perak Islamic Department (Jaipk) suspends four imams for not reading a Friday sermon that the department had prepared for Jan 31.

• The sermon warned Muslims against slander, just days after Perak PAS chief Razman Zakaria falsely claimed DAP lawmaker Hannah Yeoh was related to YTL Group founder Yeoh Tiong Lay.

• Jaipk denies the sermon was aimed at anyone, and instead recalled an incident in early Islamic history which occurred during the same Islamic calendar month.

Four Perak imams have been suspended and had their allowances withheld for not reading a Friday sermon that the state Islamic Department (Jaipk) prepared.

The sermon on Jan 31, warned Muslims against committing slander, just days after Perak PAS chief Razman Zakaria falsely claimed that Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh was related to YTL Group founder Yeoh Tiong Lay.

The four imams had instead reportedly read Friday sermons from either Kedah or Penang or from 2023.

Jaipk deputy director Zakaria Abd Razak said the imams claimed they could not print the sermon prepared for Jan 31.

The four were suspended on Feb 6, pending a disciplinary committee meeting scheduled for March.

The move followed an order by Perak ruler Sultan Nazrin Shah for stern action over the matter, Zakaria was quoted as saying by Astro Awani.

‘They want us to shut up’

Previously, Razman's son - Perak PAS ulama wing leader Rif'aat Razman - had questioned whether the sermon was aimed at the Perak PAS chief.

Jaipk denied that the sermon targeted any individuals and instead was to remember an incident in which one of Prophet Muhammad's wives - Aisyah - was slandered, which occurred during the current Islamic calendar month of Syaaban.

Police had summoned Rif'aat over his Facebook post.

PAS leader Razman Zakaria

Razman, on the evening after the sermon, posted: "They want us to shut up" (Depa nak suruh kita dok diam-diam).

The Perak PAS chief had previously apologised for the YTL remark, however, Hannah has threatened to sue over other parts of his speech, reportedly over his claims that she had a Christianisation agenda.