MELAKA: The Melaka Islamic Religious Department (JAIM) suspects an attempt to spread the deviant teachings of "The Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light" in the state.
State Education, Higher Education and Religious Affairs committee chairman Datuk Rahmad Mariman said a banner promoting these teachings was found hanging on a pedestrian bridge over a highway at Peringgit Jaya, indicating the group's efforts to make inroads into the state.
"In our opinion, this is an early indication of the movement to expand Ahmadi teachings here and we will not compromise.
"The followers should surrender and seek our guidance," he stated when speaking to reporters after inspecting the location of the banner, which has been declared deviant by the authorities, on the pedestrian bridge at Peringgit Jaya on Thursday (Jan 16).
Also present were JAIM director Datuk Md Azhan Samat and JAIM chief enforcement officer Akmal Nadzim Abdullah.
The banner was later taken down, believed to be by local villagers and members.
Earlier, a check by The Star at 8.40am on Thursday (Jan 16) found that the white banner, displaying the deviant teachings, had been hung since last night by irresponsible individuals.
The banner bore the words: "Abdullah Hashem is Al-Mahdi Ahmadi Religion of Peace & Light."
Rahmad said JAIM would lodge a police report to track down those responsible for promoting the spread of the teachings, which were declared deviant during the state Fatwa Committee meeting on Oct 3 last year.
"I believe the police will also conduct a thorough investigation to identify those responsible for hanging this deviant teachings banner.
"It was an act aimed at disrupting religious harmony in the state," he added.
