10 July 2000

JAIS ordered to probe students' involvement in cult

THE Selangor Government has ordered the State Islamic Religious Department or JAIS, to conduct a thorough investigation into the Al-Ma'unah cult, especially the involvement of schoolchildren and youths of institutions of higher learning.

Selangor Deputy Menteri Besar Datuk Dr Zainal Abidin Ahmad said today: "We have yet to ascertain the legality of the cult which is allegedly involved in the teaching of spiritual martial arts or known among many, as ilmu batin, and silat."

He was speaking to reporters after a closed-door meeting between the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah and the Regent of Selangor Tengku Idris Shah, with Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Abu Hassan Omar, State senior officers and heads of department at Dewan Jubli Perak.

Zainal Abidin, who is also State Islamic Affairs Committee chairman, said the cult did not fall under JAIS' portfolio as it dealt with the teachings of silat and thus, should be registered with Persekutuan Silat Kebangsaan Malaysia (Pesaka). However, checks with Pesaka revealed that the movement under the name of Persaudaraan Ilmu Dalam Al' Ma'unah (sumber Kekuatan Bathin) was not in the Pesaka list.

The movement's headquarters is based at No 192-E3, Tingkat 2, Jalan Sungai Putus, off Jalan Batu Belah, in Klang, Selangor.

It is learnt the police from Bukit Aman and Selangor police contingent raided the premises, early this week, and detained 12 members of the cult under the Internal Security Act. Police also seized knives, parang and training manuals.

Zainal Abidin also warned parents to be wary of silat groups or silat centres.

Sourced from http://www.accessmylibrary.com/article-1G1-63272974/jais-ordered-probe-students.html

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