In an emotional speech this evening, Perak mufti Harussani Zakaria declared that the fight to defend Islam, Malays and the institution of the Malay Rulers is a jihad or holy war.

NONE "The Muslim ummah is urged to always wage jihad. Jihad is a duty," he said in a speech during the launch of the pro-Malay-Islam NGO Jati in Shah Alam today.

Harussani ( right ) explained that this is more true now, with the Malays being economically weak, the institution of the royalty disrespected and Islam itself being insulted.

"People only stay silent, some even condone it... We are duty bound to defend our faith," he said before stopping on the verge of tears.

Commenting on those that may view his call for Malays to defend their race as stoking sectarianism, Harussani said even Prophet Muhammad called for his clan, the Quraish, to defend itself.

"When we defend our race, we are not being absorbed with ourselves. We are duty-bound to defend the Malays as this land belongs to us."

He also referred to a document called the Seven Legacies of the Malay Kings, which is said to be the document that the Malaysian constitution is based on.

As for the Malay rulers, he said the rakyat must defend them because they were the first to accept Islam in the Malay peninsula and to take the religion to the people at large.

"Thus are the kings indivisible from us," the mufti argued.

He said defending the royalty was also advocated by the prophet himself.

"The prophet had said that the kings are the manifestation of God on earth. Not on a single occasion, but in several tellings," Harussani claimed.

Launched with a bang

Harussani’s verbal fireworks were complemented by the launch of pro Malay-Islam NGO Jati by its president Hasan Ali, which proceeded with a literal bang today, as a pyrotechnic charge launched hundreds of ribbons into the air after he completed the launching ceremony by placing the nascent NGO’s logo on a pedestal.

The proceedings were also accompanied by a performance by a traditional angklung troupe made up of members from Putera and Puteri Jati and a poem recital by poet Nuri Angkasa.

A video screening also followed, which gave a short history of how the idea of the NGO came about and what it intends to do.

NONE Jati CEO Aidit Ghazali also gave a highly stylised speech in the form of linked pantuns that describe the ideals and criteria of the ‘Jati Malay’.

Prior to the proceedings, Hasan and Harussani were escorted to the stage by Bunga Manggar-bearing men and women in traditional Malay dress.

Hasan, in his speech later, explained that Jati was the brainchild of academicians and consultants, Malay-Muslims from various fields who recognised the need to uplift the race, the faith of Islam and put the Malay rulers back in their respected position.

Their goal, he explained is to defend the Islam, Malays and the Malay rulers.

He said that there is a 12-member Syura Council heading the movement with him as president, along with Aidit and other academicians and experts like Sidek Baba.

As of now, 1,000 individuals have applied for membership after Jati's official registration with the Registrar of Societies (ROS) last week.

Related stories

Hasan to provide video evidence of 'baptised' Malays

I don't want to debate about parasites, says Hasan Ali