Sultan of Selangor Warns Against Political Use of Mosques, Calls for Unity and Integrity
SHAH ALAM, Jan 28: The Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, has issued a firm reminder that mosques and suraus in the state must remain completely free from partisan politics and should never be used to advance personal or political interests.
His Royal Highness stressed that mosques are not political platforms and must not become venues for spreading hatred or division among Muslims. Instead, he said they should serve as centers of worship, dakwah, and unity for the ummah.
“I will not tolerate politicians who hide behind religious talks and use mosques and suraus to further their own political agendas,” Sultan Sharafuddin said.
He also warned against mosque officials and committee members being actively involved in partisan politics while holding religious positions, saying such dual roles could disrupt harmony within local congregations.
The Sultan made the remarks during the presentation of instruments of appointment to 850 nazirs and imams at Balairong Seri, Istana Alam Shah, in Klang on Wednesday.
Emphasising the sanctity of the roles, Sultan Sharafuddin said the positions of nazir and imam are sacred trusts, not political posts to be sought for personal gain, and will ultimately be accounted for before Allah.
He said he did not wish to receive complaints about rivalry or power struggles in mosque and surau management, warning that such disputes only fuel dissatisfaction, hostility, and division among Muslims.
“I do not want the Malays to be divided by greed for positions and power, as this will ultimately harm the Malay community itself,” he said.
On financial governance, Sultan Sharafuddin underscored the importance of trust, transparency, and integrity in the management of mosque and surau funds, in strict compliance with guidelines set by the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS) and the Selangor Islamic Religious Council (MAIS).
He called for financial reports to be submitted every four months to ensure accountability and maintain public confidence.
“I will not tolerate any misappropriation of mosque and surau funds. These are public donations belonging to Muslims and must be managed responsibly according to Islamic principles for the benefit of the ummah,” he said.
The Sultan also warned that repeated cases of corruption and misuse of funds involving Muslims risk tarnishing the image of Islam and undermining interfaith harmony, urging an end to such practices.