Terengganu Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin is part and parcel of the state government, especially in effort to realise the establishment of an Islamic state, said state Menteri Besar Abdul Hadi Awang.

Pointing out that Islam is the core of administration of the state government, Hadi said the sultan - as the patron of Islam in the state - should be informed about all important affairs in the running of the state.

The menteri besar's views were quoted by Harakah Online. The PAS web version of its party organ also quoted Abdul Hadi as saying that the sultan can express his view in his capacity as the ruler of the state.

No difficulties

He added that the state government was not facing any difficulties in fostering close relationship with the sultan who himself is knowledgeable in Islamic affairs.

"I am aware that the Terengganu royal family has a sound religious background since the establishment of the first Terengganu sultanate until now," Abdul Hadi said when commenting on the state-palace relationship in conjuction with Sultan Mizan's 41th birthday celebrations tomorrow.

According to the menteri besar, religious studies has become a tradition in the palace whereby religious teachers were employed to teach the religion and the Quran for hundreds of years.

As such, he said, when the new government took over the state administration "it was very easy for us to relate with the sultan because he is very knowledgeable in Islamic affairs".

"Therefore, in promoting Islam, we have appointed Tuanku as the patron of Islam in Terengganu," he said.

According to Abdul Hadi, all religious activities organised by the state religious affairs department, as well as the Terengganu Religious Council (Maidam), and other Islamic affairs, were reported to the sultan..