Johor ruler Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar has called Islamic preacher Zamihan Mat Zin “an empty tin with no brains.”

This comes after Zamihan purportedly criticised the sultan over his objection to having Muslim-exclusive laundrettes.

“Several muftis and religious experts have come out with their own views and arguments about this matter, but unfortunately there was a speaker called Zamihan who criticised me and disparaged those muftis.

“The way he spoke was very arrogant and haughty, as if he is the only one who is right in scorning the other races.

“I consider him to be an empty tin without a brain,” Sultan Ibrahim said during the Tun Hussein Onn University convocation ceremony today, as reported by Sinar Harian.

Zamihan (photo) had criticised those who disagreed with the existence of the “Muslims-only” laundrette in Johor, and mentioned “Tuanku” without naming the ruler concerned in his lecture in Shah Alam last week.

The preacher had also taken aim at Perlis mufti Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin and Federal Territories mufti Zulkifli Mohamad for objecting to the laundrette.

However, Sultan Ibrahim said Zamihan lied when the latter attempted to deny what he said after the speech had gone viral and received public condemnation.

“Do not lie to me. After this, just lecture in front of the mirror to see who you are for yourself,” he said.

Sultan Ibrahim also asked for Johor’s Department of Islamic Affairs (JAINJ) to no longer have any dealings with the national Islamic Development Department (Jakim).

He said that Jakim does not need to issue their views to Johor, as religious matters fall under the purview of the state.

“If he (Zamihan) is truly a Jakim preacher, I do not know where Jakim picked him up from.

“After this, I will instruct JAINJ to no longer waste their time dealing with Jakim,” he said.

After Zamihan’s speech became widely reported, he clarified that he did not mention Sultan Ibrahim in his lecture and that he held the Malay rulers in high regard.

However, as Sultan Ibrahim was the only ruler to have voiced such objections, it is unlikely that Zamihan was referring to anybody else.

Zamihan had also said that he has not worked for Jakim for 13 years, but Jakim later confirmed that he was still under their employ, though he had been seconded to the Home Ministry.