He said the minister in the prime minister’s department (religious affairs) Idris Ahmad and his deputy, Ahmad Marzuk Shaary, are also not allowed to comment on the council’s decisions.
The royal rebuke came after Jakim issued a statement on a branch of the Islamic school of thought, which PAS organ Harakahdaily declared as being against Ahli Sunnah Wal Jamaah, the main branch of Islam in the country.
Earlier, chairman of the MKI Muzakarah Committee Wan Zahidi Wan Teh said the Tarekat Naqsyabandiyah al-Aliyyah Syeikh Nazim al-Haqqani had been allowed to be practised in the country, as decided at the 117th meeting of the MKI Muzakarah Committee in 2020.
He said the tarekat is allowed to be practised by its followers as long as it does not go against the beliefs of the Ahli Sunnah.
Sultan Sharafuddin, who is MKI chairman, said the issuance of any statement regarding such matters came under the jurisdiction of the Muzakarah Committee chairman, MKI and the Conference of Rulers.
The sultan said Jakim only served as the secretariat for the Muzakarah Committee and MKI.
“In this regard, the minister in the prime minister’s department (religious affairs) and his deputy also cannot issue any statement on decisions made by the Muzakarah Committee.
“It should be noted that the minister and his deputy are not members of MKI or the Muzakarah Committee.
“Therefore, they cannot interfere in any decision of the Muzakarah Committee and MKI,” said Sultan Sharafuddin.
The sultan said only the chairman of the Muzakarah Committee can make presentations to the Conference of Rulers for consent.
“After obtaining the consent of the Conference of Rulers, implementation of the decision of the muzakarah is left to the consideration and decision of the Islamic religious authorities of each state,” the sultan said.
On the Tarekat Naqsyabandiah al-Aliyyah Sheikh Nazim al-Haqgani, Sultan Sharafuddin said the decision of the muzakarah was consented to by the Conference of Rulers on Jan 4 last year.
“Full details of the decision of the muzakarah can be referred to through a statement issued by the chairman of the Muzakarah Committee yesterday (April 8).”