A statement from the Selangor royal office said only 203 people had attended the programme, of whom 96 had refused vaccination.

The sultan would now go through the list of religious teachers and mosque officials who had refused the vaccine shots and decide on the next course of action.

The statement said the sultan had expressed dismay that less than a third of the 873 religious teachers, officiants and mosque officials in the state had attended the programme.

It was more disheartening that 96 of the 203 had refused to get vaccinated against Covid-19.

“The Sultan is extremely disappointed over the stubbornness of a few individuals who will now make it difficult for others, especially students to continue their studies,” the statement said.

Sultan Sharafuddin had started various initiatives along with the state religious authorities and the health department to ensure the well-being of Muslims in Selangor. This included vaccinating mosque officials so that congregants could return to conduct their religious obligations.

Earlier this month, the sultan said religious teachers and mosque officials in the state who refuse the Covid-19 vaccine could be barred from carrying out their duties.

He said this when voicing his displeasure that 95 “Kafa” teachers, 11 mosque officials and six officiants in the state had refused vaccination.

Kafa is an education programme approved by the Islamic development department (Jakim).