In a news report in Utusan Malaysia, Harussani was quoted as saying that as long as a leader still held on to the teachings of Islam, and did not lead the people into committing vice, any attempt to topple him was considered haram.

“Toppling a leader is prohibited even when he is a tyrant and does not give the rakyat their rights. It is haram to topple a leader in Islam, let alone to openly instigate the people to do it.

“If we demand for our rights and it is not given, the mistake is between the said leader and Allah, he will be made to pay for it,” he said.

“If a leader is wrong, we reprimand him, not go to town asking for his removal.”

Although Harussani did not mention names, it is believed he may have been referring to former Premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who recently in an interview with The Weekend Australian magazine, said foreign intervention was needed if Najib Razak was to be successfully removed as prime minister.