Terengganu on alert for deviant teachings

KUALA TERENGGANU: The Terengganu government is closely monitoring deviant teachings labelled as misleading by the State Mufti Department to prevent their resurgence following alleged attempts to revive Ayah Pin’s teachings in Besut recently.

State information, preaching, and syariah empowerment committee chairman Dr Muhammad Khalil Abdul Hadi said aside from the teachings of the Sky Kingdom sect by Ayah Pin, enforcement officers of the Terengganu Islamic Religious Affairs Department (JHEAT) are also keeping a close eye on Mohib Khouli and Kanzun Makhfiyyan.

“Enforcement action will be taken if these teachings continue to be disseminated in Terengganu, under Section 10 (insulting or defying religious authorities) or Section 12 (opinions contrary to fatwa) (Administration of Islamic Religious Affairs Enactment 1986),” he said.

He was addressing a question from Riduan Mohamad Nor (PAS-Jertih) during Question Time at the state assembly yesterday.

Furthermore, he said that the JHEAT had received several complaints regarding questionable teachings.

Investigations are ongoing under the Syariah Criminal Procedure Enactment (Terengganu) 2001, said Muhammad Khalil.

Earlier, a post on the “Imam Muda Kulan” Facebook account claimed that attempts were being made to revive the teachings of Ayah Pin by certain groups in the Besut area.

Previously, the fatwa committee of the Terengganu Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council issued a fatwa declaring the teachings of Ayah Pin as deviant. It was declared unlawful in 1997. — Bernama