Reject IS militants, says Pahang Sultan

The Sultan of Pahang, Sultan Ahmad Shah today called on the people to reject the struggle of the Islamic State (IS) militants as it is not based on the true teachings of Islam.

"Islam does not promote its followers to make changes like being done by the IS as it is a heinous act.

"As such, I call on the people to return to the teachings of the Quran and the sunnah and to exercise tolerance," said the sultan.

He was speaking at the investiture ceremony held in conjunction with his 85th birthday celebration at Istana Abu Bakar here today.

Also present were the Sultanah of Pahang Sultanah Kalsom; the Tengku Mahkota of Pahang Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah and Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob.

Sultan Ahmad Shah also said he wanted the good relations between the state and federal governments to continue so that Pahang would continue to enjoy the benefits of the country's development.

He said Pahang enjoyed rapid development, including construction of the east Coast Expressway and the Kuantan Port, as well as various infrastructure that had benefitted the people, due to the close cooperation between the state and federal governments.

At the ceremony, the sultan bestowed the state awards and medals on 91 people out of the total 1,033 recipients.

The recipients included Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom, Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Idris Haron and Tabung Haji chief executive officer Tan Sri Ismee Ismail, who were conferred the Darjah Kebesaran Sri Sultan Ahmad Shah Pahang (SSAP).