KUALA LUMPUR: Authorities like the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) must be more proactive in curbing extremist ideologies associated with the now-declared deviant group, GISB Holdings (GISBH).
Security and counter-terrorism expert Dr Ahmad El Muhammady said that public order and national security should always take precedence, even if crackdowns affect Muslim-owned businesses.
"MCMC can remove content but must follow certain procedures," he told the New Straits Times' Beyond the Headlines.
He said that it is even more crucial now as it is quickly amplified through social media platforms like TikTok.
"Certain actions need to be taken, or else these organisations will continue to operate."
The crackdown on GISBH has sparked backlash on social media, with some framing it as an attack on Muslim businesses.
However, Ahmad said that the threat from extremist ideologies is a pressing risk that must be addressed promptly.
He pointed out that the MCMC and relevant ministries have the capacity to respond accordingly but must adhere to legal protocols to ensure their actions are justified.
He added that while freedom of expression must be respected, authorities should respond promptly to correct false narratives, especially on sensitive issues like religion and race.
"This is a very challenging balance to strike," he said, adding that authorities must monitor cyberspace more effectively to prevent misinformation from escalating into threats to public order.
He also noted that authorities need to address both the business and ideological sides of such organisations.
"There are two sides of the issue (relating to GISBH) that we can look at here right now. One is on the business side of the organisation, and the second– on the
ideological side.
"There are business practices that need scrutiny, but more concerning are the ideological threats posed to society," he said.
The public, on the other hand, Ahmad said, also play a crucial role in reporting inappropriate content they encounter online.
On Sept 20, The Perlis Fatwa Committee declared that the beliefs and teachings of GISB Holdings (GISBH) are deviant and unIslamic.
It makes Perlis the first state to declare the organisation as a deviant group.
Perlis mufti Datuk Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin said that the fatwa was issued after the committee received compelling evidence.
He said that the "batiniah" (esoteric) elements in GISBH's teachings are a continuation of the deviant al-Arqam teachings.