DATU AKJAN IS ‘SHADOW OF ALLAH’?

SHADOW... Albi said 'Sultan is the ‘Shadow of Allah’ on earth and every Muslim should show obedience and respect to Him.

THE recent ceremony held in Kg Likas here was not the coronation of Dr Datu Akjan Ali Muhammad as the new reigning Sultan of Sulu, but a Majlis Doa Kesyukuran (thanks-giving ceremony) on Akjan’s acceptance of the offer and mandate to be the Sultan of Sulu, said the self-proclaimed interim government of the Sulu Sultanate.

Clarifying this was Datu Albi Ahmad Julkarnain, the ‘Prime Minister’ of the Interim Government of the Sulu Sultanate.

“What actually transpired at the symbolical ceremony held in Datu Akjan’s residence here on 2 February, 2011 was a traditional Muslim ritual symbolizing that a Sultan is the ‘Shadow of Allah’ on earth and every Muslim should show obedience and respect to Him. There was no intention or whatsoever to cause any animosity or anxiety among Malaysians, or to violate the laws of Malaysia much more its constitution.

“We deeply regret that the said event had been misconstrued as the coronation of Datu Akjan as our new Sultan and was politicized by some politicians,” said Albi in a brief statement issued here today.

He asserted that Akjan is a Muslim religious leader who is a direct descendant of the last reigning sultan of the Sulu Sultanate and it so happened that he is also citizen of Malaysia.

Akjan is currently also Chairman of Pertubuhan Kebajikan dan Dakwah Islamiah Malaysia (The Islamic Welfare and Sermon Organisation of Malaysia) or Pekida Malaysia, Sabah Division, a Supreme Councilor of Pekida Malaysia and its International Affairs Chief.

Albi concluded that a proper coronation for Akjan will be conducted on a date and venue that would be announced at a later date.