KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Fatwa Council has issued a fatwa against 16 groups for deviant teachings that do not conform to the Sunnah Wal Jamaah.
The groups are Qadiani, Al-Arqam, Hizbut Tahri, Millah Abraham, Syiah, Tal Tujuh, Tarikat Hasaniah, Tariqat Naqsyabandiah al Aliyah, Nasrul Haq, Zikir Hasan Rimau, Kumpulan Awang Rezki, Liberalisme, and Pluralisme, among others.
Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister Datuk Mohd Arifin Mohd Arif said Qadiani moved in a small group and is active in Sandakan, Beaufort, Kota Marudu and Kota Kinabalu districts.
“The Hizbut Tahrir group is detected in Sandakan. These groups’ activities are being monitored closely by the relevant agencies like the Sabah Islamic Affairs Department (Jheains), police, and the Home Ministry's Publications Control and Al-Quran Text Unit.
“This year, eight members of Millah Abraham, who fled to Sabah, were arrested in an integrated operation. They have been brought to the Federal Territory Syariah Court Kuala Lumpur for legal actions,” he said.
He added the integrated operation was carried out by the Federal Territories Islamic Religious Department (Jawi), Jheains, and the police.
Mohd Arifin told this at the state assembly sitting in response to Datuk Abd Muis Picho (Umno-Sebatik) on whether deviant teachings are active in the state and what actions are taken to tackle the matter.
He assured the state government is taking proactive measures to curb deviant teachings following attempts to develop and expand extreme ideology among the people in the state.
Among the measures is to provide explanation on the danger of having wrong aqidah through continuous education as well as bil-hikmah and bil-hal preaching.
Mohd Arifin also noted that the state government does not simply allow preachers to enter Sabah for security reason.
“We have had a meeting with the Eastern Sabah Security Command and one of the briefings touch on militant groups like the Islamic States or Daesh. This (group) arises because they don’t have understanding on Islamic teaching.
“We don’t want these (religious teaching) groups to come here and spread hatred. They must promote peace among one another despite differences in religious belief.
“Recently, we have two preachers who wanted to give talks in Bongawan without approval (from the government). So, we did not allow them,” he said.
In responding to additional question by Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan (Star-Bingkor) on the example of deviant teaching, Mohd Ariffin pointed that the Awang Rezki group promotes chanting in forests.
“They believe that when they chant with the trees, it will turn into money,” he said, which draws laughter from the house.