Eight individuals detained on suspicion of being followers of Millah Abraham cult

Melaka Education, Higher Education and Religious Affairs Committee chairman and Melaka Islamic Affairs Council deputy chairman Datuk Rahmad Mariman said the suspects, aged between 28 and 71, are retired civil servants, private sector workers, self-employed and housewives.

"The authorities received a public complaint about the spread and practice of the Millah Abraham teachings, which have been declared deviant and contrary to Islamic teachings in Melaka through a fatwa.

"A raid was carried out to inspect and search the house believed to be occupied by Millah Abraham followers, involving 70 personnel of the Melaka Islamic Religious Department and police," he said in a statement here today.

He said the authorities seized several items, including books allegedly related to the deviant teaching, such as 'Ruhul Qudus Eksistensi' and 'Esensi Al-Quran' and electronic devices such as laptops and mobile phones.

Elaborating, Rahmad said during interrogations, some suspects admitted that they had not performed the obligatory daily prayers and Friday prayers for several years.

He said they also admitted that the teachings were conducted online through applications and were actively recruiting new members from their families and friends.

Rahmad said the individuals are suspected of committing an offence under Section 63 of the Syariah Offences Enactment (State of Melaka) 1991 for insulting Islam by defying or violating a gazetted fatwa.

"They are also suspected of committing an offence under Section 60 of the same Enactment, which pertains to promoting deviant teachings, and Section 48 for publishing materials contrary to Islamic law," he said.

He also advised Muslims, especially those in Melaka, to steer away from ideologies or teachings that have been declared deviant and only adhere to the teachings of Islam based on the Ahli Sunnah Wal al-Jamaah principles.

"The public with information regarding deviant teachings in the state should promptly report it to the Melaka Islamic Religious Department," he added.

-- BERNAMA