KUCHING – Tun Pehin Sri Dr Haji Wan Junaidi bin Tuanku Jaafar, the Governor of Sarawak, received a courtesy visit from the new Mufti, Sahibus Samahah Datu Haji Khalidi bin Haji Ibrahim, at his official residence in Kasuma Resort Petra Jaya here on 11 March.
His Excellency, the Governor, welcomes Datu Haji Khalidi in his first official audience since his appointment as Mufti on 1 March 2026.
He replaces Datu Dr Haji Kipli bin Haji Yassin, who retired at the end of February after years of guiding the state’s religious affairs.
Present during the visit was Ustaz Haji Ahmad Sukarno bin Saini, Director of the Sarawak Mufti Department.
This meeting also shows the close relationship of Sarawakians’ leaders with Islam and its institutions and that both sides will continue to work together.
In the course of the meeting, Datu Haji Khalidi has asked for advisement and guidance from the Governor in regard to their responsibilities over the state’s fatwa institution.
This will be especially true when it comes to issuing fatwa (guidance) for the Muslim community, he said, and how important it is to carry out his responsibilities with integrity and wisdom.
The Governor expressed confidence that the Mufti would carry forward the legacy of his predecessors. He stressed the importance of advocating and promoting understanding between brotherhood, as well as the role of the mufti, not limited to issuing fatwas but also upholding Islam rahmatan lil ‘alamin, a religion that teaches compassion, balance, and justice.
Tun Pehin Sri noted that the Mufti institution must continue to uphold a stature of respect, serving as a credible and relevant source for guidance commensurate with current evolution.
He said that Sarawak’s multiracial society calls for religious leadership that unifies and promotes harmony while ensuring the purity of Islamic teachings is protected.
He also emphasised the need to maintain a scientific and moderate approach in rendering religious opinion so that the institution continues to enjoy respectability and relevance.
The Governor congratulated Datu Haji Khalidi at the end of the meeting and hoped that he would further strengthen the Mufti institution as a reference to Islam for Muslims in Sarawak.
He further said that with the new Mufti taking over, the dedication to leading a knowledgeable and moral society would be fostered in terms of values of simplicity and harmony.
Datu Haji Khalidi’s appointment comes as Sarawak is focusing on religious togetherness and harmony to preserve peace amongst its diverse people.
