PKR's Zaid Ibrahim has been warned by the religious authority that action could be taken against him for questioning the Selangor sultan's statement that mosques should not be used for political purposes.

NONE He said the Selangor Religious Council (Mais) chairman Mohamad Adzib Mohd Isa had advised him in a letter that "...it is an offence for anybody to go against or dispute any order or directive by the sultan.

"He further said that any order or directive issued by the sultan or Mais has the effect of  the law and is enforceable as such without having the need for it to be gazetted."

Zaid was speaking at a press conference held at his Tropicana Golf and Country Resort residence this morning.

He also said that Mohamad Adzib wrote that he is saddened by the statements, and that Zaid should be more aware of the laws.

Zaid said that he will be replying to the letter, and is also prepared to seek an audience with the sultan to offer his explanation.

Perkasa incapable of rationality

He added that he has the utmost respect for Malay rulers, including the Selangor sultan, and that he has no reason to belittle them, insisting that he is not apologising for his personal opinions.

"The palace has not demanded an apology, and I have never apologised.

"It's only (Malay rights NGO) Perkasa that is asking for me to apologise. I won't entertain them," he said, slamming the far-right group's methods of protesting.

"They don't know the law. If I disagree, they say I'm 'biadap' (rude). They can't discuss things rationally.

"Perkasa and (Selangor opposition leader Mohd) Khir Toyo may be against me, but don't use the mosques (to protest against Zaid).

"This is what the sultan meant about politicising the mosque," he said.

"Sultan's powers not limitless"

In defending his blog posting again, Zaid said: "Some are of the view that the sultan's views have the force of law immediately. I disagree with that.

"The concept of constitutional monarchy in actual fact means that the Malay rulers do possess certain specific powers.

"However, the exercise of such powers is subject to the provisions in the federal and the respective state constitutions," he said.

In his blog posting on Wednesday, he said that the sultan's remarks on the issue are merely personal opinions and a piece of advice to any party and should not be mistaken for a decree or an order.

NONE "In the constitutional monarchy system, the sultan cannot make decrees like back in the times of the Malaccan sultanate.

"According to the constitution, whatever the sultan wishes, must be channelled through Mais which will then meet and decide on gazetting any laws such as fatwa," Zaid had said in his blog.

That raised the ire of several Malay rights NGOs, including Perkasa, which burned his effigy as well as demanded that he be exiled from the state.

Several police reports were also lodged against Zaid.

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