A LACK of Islamic understanding is one of the main reasons Muslims are taking matters into their own hands stopping vice activities, said minister in charge of Islamic affairs Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa.

Many of the moral police have a wrong understanding of sin and take it upon themselves to try and stop other Muslims from committing one, said Mujahid.

However, they fail to realise that if a wrong approach is used, the image of Islam is tarnished.

“There are quarters who took the hadith literally without understanding it deeper (but) if the wrong method is used, your noble intention will only taint Islam’s image,” Mujahid told The Malaysian Insight recently.

He was responding to groups of moral police or vigilantes who take matters into their own hands without seeking permission from the state religious council, especially to combat immoral activities.

The Parit Buntar MP said stopping immoral activities does not necessarily end with arrest and can be done in a softer approach, such as offering advice.

“It does not mean that everything must end with an arrest. Some people feel to stop immoral activities, you must arrest the person and if there is no arrest, it means failure.

“What’s more important is how do we create an awareness for the public through education and preaching.”

The Amanah vice-president added that the enforcement process must be conducted based on its standard operating procedures (SOP) because failing to do so will cause a negative impact for enforcement agencies.

“As the government in power, we can’t use our authority simply and to stop immoral activities… it can’t be done spontaneously.

“By offering advice, we are not permitting the sins. There are reports saying that we are not taking action but on a daily basis we are preaching and advising.

“There needs to be an SOP because if we are sued and we lose, it will only cause the whole Islamic religious department shame,” he added.

In Kedah, an anti-vice group of vigilantes known as the Badar squad patrolled the Alor Star-Sg Petani area where they often raided budget hotels to stop young couples from committing sins.

The group would arrest young couples in hotel rooms, take them to a cemetery for counselling sessions before handing them over to their parents.

The activities are conducted without the involvement of other religious authorities.

“The law is important. Without it, there will be chaos. The Badar squad uses its hands, another group using their other hand, there will be chaos among the society if everyone is taking matters into its own hands.

“The intention is good but that’s what enforcement is. There needs to be an SOP.”

Last month, its leader, Azhar Mohamad, along with nine other members were arrested after a Kedah Islamic Religious Affairs Department officer lodged a report against them.

The group allegedly conducted enforcement activities without permission from the department and did not have any search warrant to enter premises to conduct checks.

All nine members are out on bail. – February 21, 2019.