The Malaysian Insight

ANTI-VICE vigilante group Badar squad should meet the Kedah exco in charge of religion, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa.

Mujahid, who is in charge of Islamic affairs, said he is not interested in meeting the squad, which is seeking registration in order to go nationwide, as religious enforcement falls under state jurisdiction.

“They can go and meet the state (exco) and discuss,” he told reporters at the Parliament lobby today.

Badar squad founder and leader Azhar Mohamad had said he wanted to meet Mujahid after the latter’s remark that the group’s activities would “create havoc”, as they would overlap with the duties of state religious authorities.

Before it was stopped, and its leaders charged and fined earlier this year for being an unlawful group, the Sg Petani-based squad had been conducting night raids to stop unwed Muslim couples from committing khalwat (close proximity).

Mujahid has reiterated his disapproval of a private group carrying out religious enforcement. – July 9, 2019.