Jaim identifies more than 10 'hotspots' for those who refuse to fast during Ramadan

MELAKA: The Melaka Islamic Religious Department (Jaim) identifies more than 10 locations throughout the state as 'hotspots' for the black plastic bag gang (those who refuse to fast during Ramadan).

State Education, Higher Education and Religious Affairs Committee chairman Datuk Rahmad Mariman said, therefore, frequent monitoring and inspections would be carried out in the locations under the operation codenamed Ops Cegah Jenayah Syariah.

"This enforcement action is carried out under Section 49 of the Melaka State Syariah Offences Enactment 1991 for selling food and eating during the month of Ramadan.

"Through the operation, the religious department enforcement personnel will detain Muslims found eating in public and take action against traders involved in selling food to them," he said after the launch of the state-level Ihya Ramadan 2024 programme here on Sunday (March 10).

Rahmad urged those with information about the "black plastic gang" activities or locations to channel it to the religious department to facilitate enforcement actions.

He said that during Ops Cegah Jenayah Syariah in Ramadan last year, 96 people were arrested for skipping fasting, compared to 41 in 2022. – Bernama