Why question our work now, asks vigilante anti-vice squad

Zaim Ibrahim Zaim Ibrahim Updated 7 years ago · Published on 15 Nov 2018 2:00PM · 10 Comments

Members of Badar squad waiting for a couple to come out of their hotel room during a raid at a hotel in Sg Petani, Kedah on November 11. The group says authorities had never questioned or prevented their work for the past 2 years. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Kamal Ariffin, November 15, 2018.

THE “Badar squad” vigilante group in Sg Petani, Kedah, that cracks down on Muslim couples committing khalwat or close proximity has hit back at authorities for questioning their actions now after knowing about their operations for the last two years.

Squad leader Azhaar Mohamad said no authority figure had objected to their work nabbing couples and counselling them at night in cemeteries which he said had reduced incidences of khalwat and promiscuous acts.

He said even the couples’ parents knew what they were doing, as the squad would ask parents permission to take their children to the cemetery for counselling.

“This is not something we just started doing; it’s not something I just posted Facebook. So why is it being questioned? If we have done wrong, why have the police not called us?” Azhaar told The Malaysian Insight in response to criticism from Sg Petani authorities who said the squad was going overboard.

Young women waiting for the parents to pick them up after an anti-vice raid by the Badar squad in Sg Petani, Kedah. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Kamal Ariffin, November 15, 2018.

Sg Petani MP Johari Abdul said dragging the couples to the cemetery at night to counsel them was “excessive”. The lawmaker however, said he recognised the Badar squad’s “good intentions” and urged them to work with the police and the state religious department.

State religious exco Ismail Salleh said the squad should not be acting alone and that as an unregistered group, its actions could be considered illegal.

Kuala Muda district police chief Azli Abu Samah also said that the group’s move to lodge a police report before going on a raid did not mean that police approved of their actions.

But Azhaar, better known as Ayah Ad within the group, said the squad never claimed that the police reports were a form of approval.

People being counselled by the Badar squad in Sg Petani, Kedah, following an anti-vice raid before they are released. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Kamal Ariffin, November 15, 2018.

“I never said lodging the reports was to get approval. Police have always told us not to go beyond the law. They’ve never stopped us. They’ve even said we can continue because it’s not against the law,” he said, adding that these comments were conveyed verbally and not on paper.

Azhaar also dismissed Johari’s claim that counselling couples in the cemetery at night was excessive.

“God-willing we will continue it. It strikes some fear in them. Cases have dropped as a result.”

The group has submitted applications to the Registrar of Societies twice in the last two years, he added, but to no avail.

Badar coordinator Ustaz Azhar advising those caught in anti-vice raids before releasing them to their family Sg Petani, Kedah on November 11. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Kamal Ariffin, November 15, 2018.

Azhaar said the squad’s registration was rejected the first time without reason, and was given the runaround the second time.

“In our second attempt, the RoS said we needed to go through police; when we went to the police, they said we needed to go through religious office, but religious office said they didn’t know and asked us to go through police.

“We want to get registered, but it’s the authorities who are rejecting us,” he said, adding that these same authorities were the ones who had told the squad to get registered. – November 15, 2018.

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Comments

  • These nitwits of the Badar squad fail to realize that 2 years ago, it was a BN state government in Kedah. The nation and Kedah as well has moved forward to a new era, not regressing to the dark ages when moral policing was needed. Time for Badar squad to sing a new tune or disband if need be.

    Posted 7 years ago by Panchen Low · Reply

  • What was the MAIK and JAIK doing all these years? The Sultan should intervene and put a stop to such vigilante actions by some people who think they are holier than Allah SWT. You have these people the legal and moral right to police, condemn and judge others?

    Posted 7 years ago by Gerard Lourdesamy · Reply

  • Otak kosong. Dulu lain sekarang lain.!!! Dulu MB mengantuk dan tiap tiap kali tidur sampai tak peduli hal negeri. Anyway it does not mean that you have the F@##ing rights to keep on doing your ISIS methods of intimidation. Shut up and disband !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. The current MB better wake up or rakyat will not forgive easily eventho' the cable is strong. Incompetency and neglecting the affairs of the states are not tolerated for it is consideredas treasonous when we have outrightly a brigands of religious freaks in militia attitude running around in the states creating commotions and possible mayhem in their elements of bullying and invading privacy of the rakyat. Nobody nominate them and never could appreciate their initive. Worst still is we have state assembly man and MPs with local council and even the state Police Dept. being in silence and providing them support by subtly urging to register their organisation. This is serious NO NO !!! All these will enbolden them and in the guise of religious duties they will act with high handed practises to show their might and will lead them to falsely believe that they are God sent. In no time they will behave exactly like ISIS.

    Posted 7 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply

  • Yeah, the dark era is over, wake up and see the sun.

    Posted 7 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

  • Religious dogs that are lazy, unproductive and a pariah to the society. Used our sin money to pay for their 'fun' job spying on other people private affairs.

    Posted 7 years ago by Jackal Way · Reply

  • Azhaar Mohamad, go get a job with the municipal council's enforcement department if you enjoy throwing your weight around & giving others a hard time. Oh wait... maybe he already has a day job with the municipal council as head of garbage collection unit?

    Posted 7 years ago by Antares Maitreya · Reply

  • Melayu yg gila kuasa Dan gunakan agama utk mendapatkan kuasa dan recognition. Kalau betul nak berdakwah buatlah cara yg baik by creating awareness. Melayu bangsat Dan bodoh. Memalukan Dan menjatuhkan maruah serta martabat.

    Posted 7 years ago by Alif Emran · Reply

  • Give your names to your victims if you are so righteous. Let's see if you in court.

    Posted 7 years ago by Baru Malaysian · Reply

  • It was because you were being made used by scumno...... Have spare time, please go and earn more money for better living rather keep asking the government for help. Hopeless...

    Posted 7 years ago by Wei Kuan Tan · Reply

  • These clowns should be stopped n banned.

    Posted 7 years ago by Lipdah Lia · Reply