Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Mazlan Mansor. – Bernama
PETALING JAYA: The anti-vice Badar squad has been warned by police to stay within the confines of the law and keep away from vigilante activities.
Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Mazlan Mansor said this after the religious vigilante group's founder Azhar Mohamad stated that the group would be reactivated and expand its operations nationwide.
"We would like to advise the group not to act in any way that is against the law because they are not a legitimate religious enforcement body and do not have any power to conduct religious raids," he said in a statement Thursday (July 4).
He added that any group that is not registered with the Registrar of Societies is an illegal organisation and appropriate action will be taken against them.
Azhar, 46, and several Badar squad members were arrested at the squad’s office in January after a Kedah Islamic Religious Affairs Department officer lodged a police report against the vigilante group.
The vigilante squad had allegedly conducted enforcement activities without permission from the department.
The squad also did not have any search warrant to enter premises to conduct checks.
The controversial Badar squad members had been carrying out raids on budget hotels in Sungai Petani for the last two years prior to the arrests.
Those caught committing khalwat would be taken to a cemetery, where they were given counselling.
