Sultan of Johor Sultan Ibrahim Almarhum Sultan Iskandar yesterday ordered the state government to change Kulaijaya’s name back to the original name, Kulai, with immediate effect.

He said no matter how peculiar the name of the district or village was, it should be maintained.

“Let me remind the state government under the leadership of Menteri Besar Mohamed Khaled Nordin that the name of a village or a place in Johor was given by our ancestors based on its suitability and history.

“Although it may sound peculiar, the name must be maintained and not changed.

“For this purpose, the state government should make the changes in the document of ownership or any other documents for free,” he said when officially opening the Tunku Laksamana Abdul Jalil Mosque at the Johor Police Contingent headquarters in Johor Baru yesterday.

Also present were Tunku Mahkota Johor Tunku Ismail and Tunku Temenggong Johor Tunku Idris.

Inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar, Johor Menteri Besar Mohamed Khaled Nordin and Deputy Home Minister Nur Jazlan Mohamed also attended the event.

Sultan Ibrahim also urged the state government to consider a new name for Nusajaya, which is the state government's new administration centre, as the given name was seen to have nothing to do with the history of the place.

On the RM20.3 million mosque, the sultan said it was named after his son, Tunku Laksamana Abdul Jalil, who had high regard for the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM).

“In 2011, he (Tunku Abdul Jalil) was accepted to undergo the basic police inspector course in Pulapol (police training centre). He completed the course in excellent order and was assigned to the Special Actions Unit (UTK).

“However, he had to give it up when he was diagnosed with cancer. That is why I named the mosque the Tunku Laksamana Abdul Jalil Mosque as a symbol of his love for the police force,” he said.

- Bernama