Anti-terror chief warns religious schools to watch out for extremism

Looi Sue-Chern Looi Sue-Chern Updated 7 years ago · Published on 16 Jan 2019 11:00AM · 4 Comments

Pupils studying at the religious schools must not be taught anything that goes against the Sunnah Wal Jamaah school, says a Penang education offical. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, January 16, 2019.

POLICE have warned religious school leaders to ensure extremist ideologies do not spread among their pupils and Muslim youths, particularly through social media amid rising number of incidents worldwide.

Malaysia’s anti-terrorism chief Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay Ayob gave the warning yesterday while briefing hundreds of leaders from Penang’s religious schools, saying only a few terror suspects came from religious schools but the teachers had the responsibility to ensure that pupils have a sound Islamic foundation.

“Ayob briefed us about how extremist ideology is being spread using social media, the issues concerning security and how the police have been taking action,” said Mohd Jauhari Abd Wahab, who chairs the management board of Tasek Gelugor’s Sekolah Agama Rakyat Jarak Atas.

“I think the police are doing their best. I think the MCMC (Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission) also has to watch social media for these extreme elements.

“Although the situation here is not as serious as elsewhere, we don’t want extremism (to take root) here,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

Earlier, Ayob said of the 453 people arrested since 2013 on charges of terrorism, few were from religious schools.

However, the Bukit Aman Special Branch Counter-Terrorism principal director warned that elements of terrorism may seep into the schools through teachers brought from outside, or within the schools and urged the school management to keep close tabs on the curriculum.

Bukit Aman anti-terrorism chief Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay says of the 453 people arrested since 2013 on charges of terrorism, few were from religious schools. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, January 16, 2019.

Madrasah Abu Bakar chairman Ibrahim Abu Bakar from Tasek Gelugor said he believed that Islamic schools must be more vigilant about the Islamic State’s (IS) threat.

“We have to be careful of the influence of enemies who seek to tarnish Islam. Victims who are influenced will become involved in terror activities.

“But it is challenging. It is not so easy to trace them. We are dealing with people who come to you under pretence. You can’t tell sometimes,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

Penang Islamic Affairs Department’s education section chief assistant director Rosli Othman said inviting Ayob to talk to the leaders of the religious schools is a preventive measure against the spread of extremist ideology.

“We want to take the early step because prevention is better than cure. Before the problem starts, it is better to give the school management awareness so they can also take appropriate action.

“So far, we have received no reports on extremist ideology being spread in our local Islamic schools. Penang is okay. No problems.”

Rosli also there are more than 400 Islamic schools registered with the state department, adding that their syllabus must be recognised by the Islamic Affairs Department (JHEAIPP).

“We will take action if we find any school teaching anything that goes against the Sunnah Wal Jamaah school. But so far, we have no such cases.”

Rosli also urged parents and the community to work with the school authorities to help monitor the social media activities of the younger generation.

“We hope parents and the society can help. We don’t want our kids to fall into traps or get involved in activities that threaten security.” – January 16, 2019.

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Comments

  • When you cannot see the elephant in the room difficult to combat terrorism. This is a battle of ideology. Take Zakir Naik we know his intolerant views of other religion is wanted for tax evasion and money laundering in India . What is Tun M response ? He did not commit a crime in Malaysia therefore he can stay . So can China say Jho Low has not committed any crime in China why should they extradite him to Malaysia or US ?

    Posted 7 years ago by John Fam · Reply

  • Hadi 90 jutaAwang is the main culprit.

    Posted 7 years ago by Chee yee ng · Reply

  • Give these schools Standard Syllabus to study same like National School Syllabus

    Posted 7 years ago by Tharan Singh · Reply

  • The police's efforts to check extremism are very much appreciated. However, there is a big vacuum in those efforts. To date, I can't recall the police saying anything about the preaching by Zakir Naik that "every Muslim must be a terrorist". My understanding of this line of strong 'preaching' is that Zakir Naik wants every Muslim to put the terror of Islam into what he calls "kafirs" although this teaching is against what the Prophet said, i.e. "to you yours and to me mine". In ordinary language this means that Zakir Naik is planting land mines wherever he stands before crowds in a multi-racial country and proclaims that Islam is THE only true religion and all the others are false. These land mines could one day be detonated by remote control. I'm sorry to say it but Dr Mahathir is wrong to say that he has not committed any crime. Under the Penal Code his speeches or "lectures" on "comparative religion" should be offences.
    Section 298.
    Whoever, with deliberate intention of wounding the religious feelings of any person, utters any word or makes any sound in the hearing of that person, or makes any gesture in the sight of that person, or places any object in the sight of that person, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or with fine or with both.


    Section 298A. (1)Whoever by words, either spoken or written, or by signs, or by visible representations, or by any act, activity or conduct, or by organizing, promoting or arranging, or assisting in organizing, promoting or arranging, any activity, or otherwise in any other manner
    (a) causes, or attempts to cause, or is likely to cause disharmony, disunity, or feelings of enmity, hatred or ill will; or
    (b)
    prejudices, or attempts to prejudice, or is likely to prejudice, the maintenance of harmony or unity, on grounds of religion, between persons or groups of persons professing the same or different religions, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term of not less than two years and not more than five year

    I implore Bukit Aman anti-terrorism chief Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay to make a public stand on Zakir Naik's speeches, regardless if Tun Mahathir thinks that he has not caused any trouble. In what sense has he "not caused any trouble" when he is creating ill-will by disparaging the non-Muslims?
    Could Ayob Khan please assure Malaysians that Zakir Naiks's anti-kafir speeches do not fall within the ambit of the Penal Code?

    Posted 7 years ago by Ravinder Singh · Reply