Badar squad ‘illegal’

Zaim Ibrahim Zaim Ibrahim Updated 5 years ago · Published on 14 Nov 2018 7:00AM · 7 Comments

Azhaar Mohamad (in white turban) claims that his 'Badar squad' has caught hundreds of couples for close proximity and counselled them in Sg Petani. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Kamal Ariffin, November 14, 2018.

A VIGILANTE group calling itself the “Badar squad” is operating illegally as it has not received the approval of any state agency to act as moral police and nab and counsel promiscuous couples, state officials said.

The Sungai Petani MP, police and executive councillor in charge of religion admitted that while the intentions of the vigilante squad are good, it is wrong to take the law into its hands.

They said if the vigilante group was sincere about helping the state curb social ills, then it should register with the Registrar of Societies to be a legitimate body.

Sungai Petani lawmaker Johari Abdul said taking the couples to the cemetery to counsel them is “excessive”.

“Their intentions are good but we have laws to deal with such couples. It’s not right to take them to the cemetery. That’s excessive,” Johari told The Malaysian Insight.

“I support what they do but they must operate within the law. They should work with the state religious department and the police so that they are not misunderstood by the public.”

The Badar squad has been in operations in the past two years. It claims to have nabbed “hundreds” of couples but none have been charged under shariah law, as they are counselled and let off with a warning.

Its founder and leader, Azhaar Mohamad, told The Malaysian Insight that before each raid, the group will lodge a police report.

Sungai Petani MP Johari Abdul says it is excessive to take couples to a cemetery for counselling. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, November 14, 2018.

But Kuala Muda district police chief Azli Abu Samah said lodging a report before a raid does not mean that it has police approval.

“Yes, they have lodged reports, but they should not take that as receiving the blessings of the police,” Azli told The Malaysian Insight.

“Let me stress this. We have not empowered anyone to take such action.”

Azli said police have been monitoring this group to see if there is any element of extortion but found none. Furthermore, he said, police have not received any report against the group.

State religious exco Ismail Salleh said although they support any move to curb social ills, it should not be carried out illegally.

“They (Badar squad) cannot act like this,” Ismail told The Malaysian Insight.

Ismail, who is also the Pengkalan Kubur assemblyman, said the squad is not a registered group, so its actions can be deemed as going against the law.

“They have also not sought the approval of any state agency to do what they are doing now,” said Ismail, who is also Kedah Amanah chairman.

He admits there could be shortcomings on enforcement by the state religious authorities but this did not give the licence to anyone to take the law into his hands.

“Go and get registered first, then come and talk to us,” Ismail added. – November 14, 2018.

Couples are brought to a cemetery to be ‘counselled’ by the Badar squad during an anti-vice raid in Sg Petani, Kedah. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Kamal Ariffin, November 14, 2018.

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Comments

  • This is early an extremist, illegal group. What nonsense is there about getting registered? Noone can take the law into their own hands. Disband the group and stop their activities immediately.

    Posted 5 years ago by Arvind U Gopi Kumar · Reply

  • Johari Abdul is in support of this vigilante group as long as it operates within the law. This is nonsensical and outrageous. You are wrong Jo Abdul : this is Fascism. Period.

    Posted 5 years ago by [email protected] · Reply

  • This group of people who claim to be holier than thou is the exact problem we have in this country. They should be barred immediately. Even if they register as a society by what authority do they have to "catch" people or couples. A disgrace!

    Posted 5 years ago by Aden Han · Reply

  • Is this Malaysia or Afghanistan? Looks like talibans are at work.

    Posted 5 years ago by Lily Cheong · Reply

  • These are just perverts using religion as a cover to peep. Arrest them. What are the police waiting for?

    Posted 5 years ago by Arul Inthirarajah · Reply

  • Still there is such leniency as : "go and register first and then come and take to us".

    Posted 5 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

  • Why did the authorities allow a span of time for such illegal group to operate. ???? Why did PDRM especially those in the know how of such illegal group turns a blind eye and offered free hand to operate without any bother ?????? What good is Ayub Khan in his job role if such avtivities are allow to propagate and later transform to high handed extremes of terrorism.????. Why is Johari so tolerant and even heap praises on their activities ???. What good is he as an MP and in cahoots just because it is the same religion he is in, knowingly that it is illegal and could manifest into an off shoots of ISIS ideology. Where is our Minister incharge of religious affairs Mujahid and what has he got to say about such absurdity ???? With all being lakadaisical in apprehending such serious concerns this misguided unlawful bunch will be enbolden to discard the civil law with ISIS extemes ideology in arbitration???? . They have started in using psychological fear inducement by holding "hostages" in cemetry to warrant their actions. I would not be surprised there will be an ocaasion to happen where heinous crime will be committed in that secluded areas.The rakyat especially the Malay race should condemn such activities and not blindly accept in good faith that this misfits are performing the religious obligations. ISIS also started in the same background in promoting their way of Islam thru soft approach ideology in ensuring good practises under stringent punishment and many Muslim were happy in the intial stage but turns into nightmare and were caught off guard with regrets in not stopping their invasive apporach. Ultimately barbarism tooks hold in their actions where they falsely believe that they are ordained by Almighty to so. This unlawful bunch of misfits has to be arrested and charged to ensure that it is disbanded

    Posted 5 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply