KOTA BARU: The police will maintain vigilance over the Millah Abraham heresy group following the recent arrest of 17 individuals believed to be members in Johor.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain said that the police would continue to work closely with the state religious department on this matter.
He assured that the situation in the four districts – Batu Pahat, Pontian, Muar, and Segamat – where the arrests occurred remained under control.
"Police, particularly those in Johor, have been instructed to monitor the situation closely.
"Members of the public should report any encounters with such deviant teachings to the police or other relevant authorities," he said.
The arrests were made during a joint operation with the state religious department on Aug 1.
The operation, involving simultaneous raids, targeted locations suspected of propagating the Millah Abraham heresy.
Johor Islamic Religious Affairs Committee chairman Mohd Fared Mohd Khalid said that the arrests were part of efforts to combat the spread of these heretical teachings.
The Millah Abraham teachings were declared heretical in Johor on July 30, 2015, and officially gazetted on April 28, 2016, as deviations from the teachings of Ahli Sunnah Wal Jamaah.
Fared said that the raids, dubbed Ops Milab, followed investigations revealing ongoing activities related to these deviant teachings.
He said that the Johor government had issued stern warnings against such teachings and would enforce strict measures under existing laws to prevent their spread.