POLICE have detained eight more members of Badar squad, who have been remanded for two days.

All eight, aged between 20 and 40, were picked up last night in Sungai Petani.

They are under investigation for the same offence as their leader Azhar Mohamad, who was arrested on Sunday.

Kuala Muda police chief Adzli Abu Shah when contacted confirmed the arrests.

“We also confiscated a vest that has ‘Skuad Badar Mencegah Kemungkaran dan Khidmat Masyarakat’ printed on it, as well as Azhar’s mobile phone,” Adzli said.

Magistrate Mohamad Fared Abd Latif issued the remand order at the Sungai Petani court this morning.

Following Azhar’s arrest on Sunday, Kedah police told The Malaysian Insight he was under investigation for breaching the Official Secrets Act and Societies Act 1966.

The vigilante squad is not registered with the Registrar of Societies and has been conducting raids in Sungai Petani to check for khalwat for the last two years.

Meanwhile, Adzli said that Azhar’s remand was extended for another two days. Another squad member apprehended with Azhar last week also had his remand extended.

It is understood that police picked up Azhar after a senior official of the State Islamic Religious Affairs Department in Sg Petani filed a police report. 

Sungai Petani MP Johari Abdul has criticised the vigilantes for their “excessive” methods of moral policing, and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Mujahid Yusof Rawa has slammed the group for taking the law into their own hands in the name of Islam.

Authorities said the squad does not have the power to conduct raids and anti-vice operations.

The squad was also engaged in a war of words with the state exco in charge of religion, Ismail Salleh, over the legality of its actions. In December, the group accused Ismail of calling to a halt a forum at a mosque in Sg Petani.  – January 17, 2019.