KUCHING: Religious leaders from outside Sarawak are advised to get approval from the Sarawak Islamic Council before giving ‘ceramah’ in the state.

In giving this advice yesterday, Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg said this is pertinent because religious leaders are the ones doing the preaching.

“They are the individuals who will be offering advice to the Muslim community through ceramah, and there will be more ‘jemaah’ (congregation) during the Ramadan month,” he said when met by reporters after attending a function at Dewan Hikmah in Petra Jaya here.

Abang Johari said to-date the state had not blacklisted any religious leaders from outside the state, and Sarawak Islamic Council is monitoring the situation.

Asked whether the state government had received any complaints about unwanted congregation, he said there were a couple of complaints, but it was not alarming.

“That’s why we advise because we worry some (religious leaders) may advocate ideas not in line with our syafi’i. If they have elements that will bring about misunderstanding, it will affect our congregation here,” he added.