Check Zamihan’s rehab courses, says Islamic researcher

Noor Azam Shairi Noor Azam Shairi Updated 8 years ago · Published on 13 Oct 2017 11:00AM · 3 Comments

Zamihan Mat Zin is facing sedition charges after he criticised the Johor sultan for intervening in the Muslim-only launderette issue in Muar. – YouTube pic, October 13, 2017.

PUTRAJAYA needs to re-examine the terrorist rehabilitation programmes run by Zamihan Mat Zin after the preacher was arrested over allegations that he had given a seditious lecture in Shah Alam last week, said an Islamic researcher.

International Islamic University lecturer Dr Maszlee Malik said the Home Ministry should prepare a detailed report on the rehabilitation programmes as Zamihan’s thinking presents a risk to the harmony of a multiracial Malaysia.

Malaysians should be worried and pressure Putrajaya to re-evaluate these programmes as Zamihan has shown signs of promoting intolerance and hatred among Muslims and non-Muslims.

“How can he de-radicalise others if his preaching contains elements of racial radicalism?

“We don’t want those turning away from Islamic State becoming racists instead,” Maszlee told The Malaysian Insight.

Maszlee, who is an assistant professor at the Faculty of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences in IIU, has conducted a lot of research into Islamic movements in Malaysia. 

His research includes the development of the IS movement in Malaysia, which was presented in a regional security forum in Singapore in January last year.

Maszlee was commenting on the issue after a rare statement from the Malay rulers noted that the actions of certain individuals have gone beyond acceptable standards of decency, putting at risk the harmony that exists in Malaysia.

Zamihan was arrested on Wednesday after a video of him speaking out against the Johor sultan surfaced on social media.

In the video, Zamihan said it was “not right” to ban Muslims-only launderettes.

Last month, Johor ruler Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar directed a Muslim-only launderette in Muar to  open to all customers or close shop.

This owner had put up a sign saying the shop was for Muslims only. He removed the sign and apologised to the sultan, explaining that it was just a marketing gimmick.

Zamihan, lecturing in a mosque in Shah Alam on Sunday, told the congregation it was not the ruler’s right to prohibit Muslim-only laundrettes in his state.

Zamihan, in some of his lectures available on YouTube and media interviews, admitted that he was also involved in the rehabilitation programmes involving drug cases and Shia followers.

He is an officer with the Malaysian Islamic Development Department in the Home Ministry and is on secondment to the Prison Department.

Investigate Aswaja, too

Maszlee said the authorities should also investigate Malaysia Ahli Sunnah Waljamaah Organisation (Aswaja), which is led by Zamihan, to see if it promotes hatred against non-Muslims.

“If you check the Aswaja Facebook page, you can see his followers defending him passionately. Will their racist doctrine spread to others if action is taken against Zamihan?”

Zamihan’s followers have defended their leader on Facebook, saying that this is a Wahabi conspiracy to attack an “Islamic fighter”.

Maszlee said their actions are similar to IS followers who defend their use of might to attack others although it is against the religion.

Deputy Home Minister Nur Jazlan said the ministry will re-examine Zamihan’s role in the rehabilitation programmes. 

“The ministry is studying his role in the programme”. – October 13, 2017.

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Comments

  • The article states, :He is an officer with the Malaysian Islamic Development Department in the Home Ministry and is on secondment to the Prison Department." and later it suggests that the guy is still working. As we know from all intelligence sources in the world, prison is the perfect place to radicalize would be terrorists. You allow a radical preacher into such and environment and you're going to have numerous problems l;ater. Keep him if the govt is so desperately short handed and understaffed. But don't allow him to spread his rubbish in prison

    Posted 8 years ago by Colin Nathan · Reply

  • Get rid of the garbbage immediately!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. Not even one second more should he be allowed to remain in any services. He is a bane to both UmnoBN or even PH.

    Posted 8 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply

  • Shocking how such a person could be given the responsibility of "rehabilitating" terrorists. Just because he is 'somebody' in the religious circles? He would be making them more hardened terrorists. It is just like the way Zakir Naik is being so highly regarded by the Malaysian authorities and given permanent residence and refuge from the law in his homeland India. Careful listening to Zakir Naik's talks reveals that his message is not a message of peace and tolerance but a message of not just disrespect of other religions, but even of incitement of hatred of the non-Muslims although he claims otherwise. His incitement is not direct but veiled and very powerful. How many more Zamihan's are on the loose in the country? There is no monitoring at all of what they are preaching to their Muslim only audiences. All talks/lectures by the likes of Zamihan should be opened to non-Muslims to attend as a monitoring mechanism to check them. Harbouring Zakir Naik only gives strength to the likes of Zamihan to hammer the non-Muslims. Remember how even the Mufti of Perlis had followed the footsteps of Zakir Naik with his poem about the Indians and their cows? Malaysia should revoke Zakir Naik's permanent residence and pack him off before more damage is done to race relations.


    Posted 8 years ago by Ravinder Singh · Reply