PKR has questioned why Putrajaya has allowed controversial preacher Zamihan Mat Zin, who has been banned from lecturing in Selangor and Johor, to conduct rehabilitation programmes on detained IS militants.  

PKR Supreme Council member Latheefa Koya., who is also a lawyer, said Zamihan’s extremist views, such as on the Muslim-only launderette and criticising a bilal in Penang for allowing non-Muslim flood victims to take refuge, were well-known.

“How does a preacher who is banned from speaking in Selangor and Johor, and caused so much controversy is still being given access to IS detainees?

“I urge Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to re-evaluate the role of Zamihan at the prison immediately, especially with IS-related detainees,” she said in a statement today.

Latheefa said it was shocking that after the numerous controversies, Putrajaya still allowed Zamihan access to the “most extreme” groups of detainees who were sympathetic to IS’ struggle.

Two days ago, Zamihan recounted in a Facebook post his experience of conducting a programme with militant detainees in Tapah, Perak.

“Alhamdulillah. just finished a de-radicalisation session with the detainees who are involved with the Daesh militant group in Tapah,” he said, referring to IS using its Arabic acronym. 

“The session focused on jihad language and terms, verses and hadith on jihad, chronology of jihad, jihad laws: fardhu kifayah and fardhu ain, the terms of jihad through the book al-Iqna ‘and the issue of al-Salab, al-Faei, al-Ghanimah, the role of government, soldiers and police in Islamic countries and others.

“The four-hour session was cheerful and lively as questions were entertained.” 

Earlier, International Islamic University of Malaysia lecturer Maszlee Malik said the Home Ministry must present a transparent report on the rehabilitation programme because Zamihan’s thoughts were seen to be at risk of affecting racial harmony in Malaysia.

He said Malaysians should feel worried and insist on the report, as Zamihan expressed views that encouraged Muslms to hate non-Muslims.

He also said the rehabilitation programme by the government should not be abused. 

Deputy Home Minister Nur Jazlan Mohamed on October 13 had told The Malaysian Insight that the ministry would review Zamihan’s role in the rehabilitation programme. 

Zamihan was remanded for two days to assist investigations under the Sedition Act 1948 for allegedly criticising Johor’s Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, who had banned Muslim-only laundrettes in the state.

In the same lecture at the Tengku Ampuan Jemaah Mosque in Shah Alam last month, Zamihan also allegedly said the Chinese were unhygenic. – November 9, 2017.