KULIM: Police will investigate a khatib for allegedly spreading false claims that Malaysia had granted citizenship en masse to 1.2 million Chinese nationals during a Friday sermon at a mosque in Padang Serai yesterday.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail described the incident as "highly regrettable" and confirmed that the police had received a report on the matter.
"I received a complaint yesterday regarding a sermon at a mosque in the Padang Serai parliamentary constituency.
"The sermon allegedly discussed the issue of granting citizenship to Chinese nationals, with claims that the number now exceeds a million. This is highly regrettable, as it tarnishes the integrity of the mosque institution," he told reporters after attending the Home Ministry's reach out programme at SK Ladang Dublin in Alor Pongsu here today.
Present were the ministry's secretary-general, Datuk Awang Alik Jeman, his deputies, Datuk Abdul Halim Abdul Rahman and Datuk Makhzan Mahyuddin.
Saifuddin assured the public that the situation was being monitored closely, and police had already received a report.
He also stressed that if the incident involved the misuse of the mosque to incite racial hatred and hostility, the Bukit Aman Special Task Force would investigate further.
"If the investigation reveals that the mosque platform was used to promote such divisive narratives, we will take appropriate action," he added.
Saifuddin expressed disappointment that, despite previous clarifications by his predecessors, the baseless claim continued to spread.
"My predecessors, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin, had both denied these claims when they held office," he said, referring to the allegations as misleading and slanderous.
Saifuddin also expressed his dismay that the mosque, a place meant to promote faith and unity, was being misused for spreading such harmful rhetoric.
"The mosque should be a platform for fostering piety, encouraging good deeds, and promoting justice, not for stirring up division. It should be a space where Muslims come together to enhance their worship and brotherhood," he said.
He believes that the khatib did not read from an official sermon text but instead delivered his own personal views.
"It is deeply regrettable that the Friday sermon platform, which is an important part of our religious obligations, was misused in this way," he added.