By Danial Dzulkifly
HULU SELANGOR, March 12 — Selangor is built on a strong foundation of unity and mutual respect, and social harmony must continue to be upheld, said state executive councillor for Islam and innovation Dr Mohammad Fahmi Ngah.
He reminded Muslims that Islam teaches respect for other religions and urged the people of Selangor to preserve the state’s spirit of inclusivity, following recent online content by radio personalities that purportedly sparked religious tensions.
“We must honour and respect other faiths and not ridicule them. If such behaviour starts, it will only lead t prolonged discord.
“This unity is what makes Selangor prosperous and progressive. Strength lies in diversity, and maintaining harmony within that diversity is essential,” he said during the state’s Kembara Masjid programme at Masjid As-Sajidin in Batang Kali today.
The comments came after the recent incident involving ERA FM radio announcers Nabil Ahmad, Azad Jazmin, and John Louis Jeffri, which drew the ire of the Indian community and led to heated religious debates online.
All three hosts have since apologised for their actions, which prompted the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission to take action.
It fined ERA FM’s operator Maestra Broadcast Sdn Bhd RM250,000 after reviewing the company’s appeal against a suspension notice issued on Friday (March 7).
The fine was imposed under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (as amended on February 11, 2025) for uploading offensive content on the radio station’s official TikTok account.
Meanwhile, Fahmi highlighted the importance of understanding the real issues affecting local mosques.
He explained that the Kembara Masjid initiative allows the government to go beyond official reports and directly assess the conditions of mosques, from their infrastructure needs to their historical significance.
“Rather than just receiving reports, it is better to visit and understand the real issues on the ground. When you go and see for yourself, only then do you realise how severe the problems are,” Fahmi said.
The programme also aims to showcase the cultural and historical aspects of mosques that often go unnoticed.
“Most people know about the state mosque, but many historic mosques in rural areas with deep significance remain largely unknown.
“By drawing attention to these sites, we hope to create awareness and interest, especially among the youth,” he said.
The councillor said that Selangor has some 440 mosques and over 2,000 suraus under the purview of the state administration.
Fahmi noted that younger generations must be encouraged to visit their local mosques, not just for prayers but also to build stronger bonds with the elders.
“We want to encourage more interaction between the young and the old at mosques because often, it is the elderly who frequent them.
“If young people can see what they can learn and how they can work together, we can further enrich and strengthen these sacred spaces,” he said.
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