SG Petani folk generally appreciate the vigilante Badar Squad’s work to prevent immoral activities in their town.

However, they are also concerned that the group’s actions, though well-intentioned, are illegal. There are residents who are uncomfortable with the squad’s activities, too.

“The Badar Squad is good because they urge teenagers at cybercafes to go for Friday prayers or Maghrib prayers.

“But when it (a raid) involves premises, that’s wrong. They have no warrant,” said hotel marketing officer Shahrul Nazrik Mahmad.

“When they conduct an operation, it looks like a riot because there are a lot of them. There have been times when they caused a provocation. Maybe the people are afraid (to take action), but they do not know about the laws,” the 34-year-old told The Malaysian Insight.

The group, comprising between 20 and 40 volunteers, prowls hotels and parks looking for Muslim couples committing khalwat (close proximity). These men also check homes if they receive complaints from the public.

Before conducting raids, they lodge police reports to inform the authorities, seeing this as requesting and getting permission. Police, however, have denied that these reports qualify as a go-ahead from the authorities.

A local said a fight almost broke out between the Badar Squad and the management of a mosque over the group’s approach.

He said the squad’s raids on private premises have caused residents to feel uncomfortable.

“I do not agree. Every mosque has a safety committee, so why do they need another one?” said Rahmat Paiman, 53, who said he knows several members of the Badar Squad.

He said the group’s patrols in a few places are effective at preventing cases of theft.

“There are people patrolling (housing areas) at night. It’s good, this lessens the crime.

“But sometimes, they are too much… (they) raid cybercafes, gambling places. They way they do it, raiding other people’s premises… we would not like it if people raided our homes.”

Muhammad Zulfaiz Abdul defended the Badar Squad, saying it is more efficient than the state’s religious authorities.

The 23-year-old said those who question the group should, instead, ask why enforcement is so weak that there is a need for such vigilantes to take action.

“The Badar Squad is better because they are actively preventing ‘unhealthy’ activities from being carried out. If we do not make mistakes, we should not be afraid because the Badar Squad won’t bother us.”

The group’s chairman, Azhaar Mohamad, said it has not received objections from Sg Petani folk in the two years it has been in existence.

“So far, we have not gotten objections from any party. Even if there has been an objection, it’s from non-Muslims, because we disrupt their businesses… but I discuss with them nicely,” he said when met a few days ago.

The Badar Squad conducts raids on a weekly basis, based on information received from the public as well as its patrol unit. Among the places targeted for raids are budget hotels, which are frequented by unmarried Muslim couples.

Those caught committing khalwat are brought to a Muslim cemetery, where they are counselled. – November 14, 2018.