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Mujahid: Private bodies have no enforcement powers

Mujahid: Private bodies have no enforcement powers

KUALA LUMPUR: Problems will arise if private entities are allowed to carry out enforcement activities, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Mujahid Yusof Rawa.

He was referring to Muslim vigilante group, Skuad Badar’s intention of wanting to curb immoral practises, especially khalwat (close proximity) among Muslims in Sungai Petani, Kedah.

“The intention is good but you must understand the law. Having private ones will create a lot of problems,” said Mujahid at the Parliament today.

Skuad Badar, helmed by its president Azhar Mohamad, has been carrying out raids on budget hotels in the last two years. Those caught by them were allegedly taken to cemeteries and given counselling.

The law soon caught up with the vigilante group, with the court slapping its members with fines for being part of an illegal organisation early this year.

Unperturbed, Azhar announced that he would make a comeback by registering his movement with the Registrar of Societies and was prepared to meet Mujahid to discuss the matter further.

However, Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Mazlan Mansor warned Skuad Badar that the group was neither a legitimate religious enforcement body nor do they have any enforcement powers under the law.

Mujahid stressed that enforcement should come from the government as a lot of things can go wrong if it was subcontracted to private entities.

“Enforcement should come from the government. If it comes from a private group, a lot of things can happen. We want to avoid such things,” he said.

Asked whether he was prepared to meet Azhar, Mujahid dismissed the idea and told the former to meet the Kedah state exco in charge of Islamic affairs instead.

“They can go meet the state exco. It’s not under my jurisdiction,” he said.

Under the Federal Constitution, Islamic matters fall under the purview of the state, with the Sultans acting as the Head of Islam in their respective states.

The Yang di-Pertuan Agong becomes the head of Islam in the states where there are no Rulers.

By G Vinod