Religious enforcement must be within the law, says Mujahid

Looi Sue-Chern Looi Sue-Chern Updated 5 years ago · Published on 14 Nov 2018 6:50PM · 5 Comments

The vigilante Badar Squad has been going around Sg Petani, Kedah, nabbing and counselling promiscuous couples. The counselling is done at a Muslim cemetery. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Kamal Ariffin, November 14, 2018.

ANY religious enforcement exercise must stay within the limits of the law, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa.

Mujahid, who is in charge of religious affairs, was commenting on the Badar Squad, a vigilante group in Sg Petani that has been going around nabbing and counselling promiscuous couples.

The group has been operating “illegally”, having no clearance from any federal or state religious or enforcement authority to act as the moral police.

“Enforcement must be within the law,” Mujahid told The Malaysian Insight.

“Those who take the law into their own hands in the name of Islam have tarnished their good deeds and intentions.”

He said he will leave the issue to Kedah religious affairs exco Dr Ismail Salleh.

“Dr Ismail has given his comments on the matter. So has Sg Petani MP Johari Abdul. They conveyed the message well.”

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa says those who take the law into their own hands in the name of Islam have tarnished their good deeds and intentions. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, November 14, 2018.

Dr Ismail said the Badar Squad should get itself legally registered and speak to state religious authorities, while Johari said the group’s actions – “catching” couples and taking them to a Muslim cemetery for counselling – are “excessive”.

Badar Squad comprises between 20 and 40 men who set up stake-outs at budget hotels and parks almost every weekend in search of unmarried couples having illicit sex.

Those nabbed are taken to a cemetery, where they are “counselled”.

“Their intentions are good, but we have laws to deal with such couples. It’s not right to take them to the cemetery. That’s excessive,” said Johari.

The MP said the squad should work within the law and cooperate with state religious authorities and police, so that its actions are not misunderstood by the public. – November 14, 2018.

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Comments

  • What rubbish is this ??? Why then did you take up the Minister post if you are good at playing Tai Chi. From the Federal this misfit bunch should be charged for illegal harassment and a threat to society on the peace and harmony. Before GE14 victory so much of sweet talks in saying that there will not be anymore Khalwat raid and respecting privacy of the citizens but somehow the religious bindings supercede the intelligent discourse in actions . Even the non muslim see this actions as a threat as the unathorise bunch could be easily radicalised into ISIS terrorists. Stop it for once or rakyat will form private vigilante to protect themselves from this bogus bunch of vigilante.

    Posted 5 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply

    • stupid its a state matter la let the state sort it out la what you expect him to do?

      Posted 5 years ago by Shakir Ameer · Reply

    • Stupidity is seen in you . When there is overboard and crossing the line in law abiding, Federal has all rights to interfer if the states do not take up actions. What state matter?? when every one in the state are turning a blind eye and subtle encouragement to ask this rogue bunch to register themselves inorder to legitimise their actions. Infact they should have been told to disband immediately. Let the state religious group handle that affairs.

      Posted 5 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply

  • We have had squads of four supposedly credible malay men smashing down the front doors of people's apartment in the middle of the night purportedly to to catch couples in the act even resulting in a polis falling to his death in his bid to escape. Is Mujahid now saying they need to be licensed to smashed down that front door?

    Posted 5 years ago by Roger 5201 · Reply

  • MB Kedah, please respond!

    Posted 5 years ago by Aden Han · Reply