KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 61 arrests were made towards individuals who insulted Islam between 2020 and 2024, the Dewan Rakyat was told.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar (pic) explained that these actions were taken against Muslims who insulted Islam.
He said 52 cases have also been charged.
“Insulting Islam is a Syariah offence across all states in Malaysia. Provisions against this offence are in the section related to the sanctity of Islam and its institution.
“Syariah laws can only punish any Muslim individual that insults Islam.
“However, the same provision cannot be used against non-Muslim,” he said in a Parliamentary written reply on Tuesday (Feb 25).
For non-Muslims that are found to have insulted Islam, Mohd Na’im said it will be investigated under the Penal Code and the Multimedia and Communications Act.
He said the Islamic Development Department of Malaysia (Jakim) has a 24-hour hotline, which also serves as an avenue to receive complaints on issues related to Islam being insulted over social media.
According to Mohd Na’im, the hotline is handled by Jakim together with state Islamic authorities, police and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission.
He was responding to a question by Salamiah Mohd Nor (PN-Temerloh) who asked about cases of Islam being insulted.
