Preacher held for unauthorised sermon in Johor released on bail
JOHOR BAHRU: A religious preacher detained by the Johor Islamic Religious Department (JAINJ) last Wednesday for allegedly delivering a sermon without authorisation in Pasir Gudang was released the following day on bail.
JAINJ director Nasri Md. Ali said the 50-year-old preacher had cooperated fully during his detention.
'He was arrested at 8.30pm on Wednesday and released the next day. He was called in again yesterday and is scheduled to return on July 3 to assist with the ongoing investigation by our enforcement division,' Nasri said when contacted today.
Last Thursday he confirmed that the arrest was made with assistance from the Seri Alam District Police under Section 11 of the Johor Syariah Criminal Offences Enactment 1997 for teaching religion without proper credentials.
Nasri added that the preacher had previously been detained in 2016 for the same offence and had evaded arrest during a raid in 2020.
'This is the third action taken against him for preaching without credentials. We don't stop anyone from giving sermons, but they must obtain proper authorisation from the Johor Islamic Religious Council, as required in all states,' he said.
Earlier, celebrity preacher Ustaz Abdullah Khairi shared a video showing the preacher's arrest in Pasir Gudang.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
4 days ago
- New Straits Times
Foreign man caught with 56-year-old sex worker in mid-day raid
MUAR: A 33-year-old foreign man was caught red-handed with a 56-year-old sex worker during a mid-day raid by the Johor Islamic Religious Department (JAINJ) at a budget lodging house here yesterday. The man, who allegedly paid RM40 for a 30-minute session, was detained during the 12.50pm raid at one of four old premises flagged by the authorities for operating as venues for paid sex. In a statement, JAINJ said the woman was among more than 10 ageing non-Muslim prostitutes found waiting for customers during the sting operation in the heart of Muar. "Several male Muslim clients managed to flee the scene after being tipped off by a caretaker," the department said. The premises, believed to have been operating for years, were said to be frequented by foreign men living apart from their families. The detained suspect is expected to be charged at the Muar Syariah Court under Section 27 of the Johor Syariah Criminal Offences Enactment for engaging in immoral acts. The non-Muslim woman was released. "JAINJ has conducted numerous such operations in the past, leading to the arrest and prosecution of both local and foreign offenders," the department added.
The Sun
01-06-2025
- The Sun
Johor denies targeting religious preachers amid accreditation checks
JOHOR BAHRU: Religious speakers delivering sermons in Johor must hold valid accreditation, and recent checks are part of routine enforcement rather than a targeted campaign, said the state's Islamic Religious Affairs Committee chairman Mohd Fared Mohd Khalid. He noted that the requirement is in line with Section 11 of the Johor Syariah Criminal Offences Enactment 1997 and applies equally to all speakers. 'This isn't about singling anyone out. The rule is clear. Anyone who wants to deliver religious talks in Johor must be accredited, with no exceptions,' he said during a visit to the family of Misnan Ahmad, a 60-year-old pilgrim who died in Makkah yesterday. Earlier this week, a preacher was reported to have been detained by the Johor Islamic Religious Department (JAINJ) for allegedly giving an unauthorised sermon at a private home in Pasir Gudang. The 50-year-old local man was arrested on Thursday evening by JAINJ's enforcement unit, with support from the Seri Alam district police headquarters (IPD), but was released the following day. JAINJ director Nasri Md Ali confirmed the individual will be called in again on July 3 to assist in the department's investigation. As is standard practice, all religious speakers intending to conduct lectures in any state must obtain accreditation from that state's religious authority. In Johor, this falls under the jurisdiction of the Johor Islamic Religious Council (MAINJ).
The Sun
31-05-2025
- The Sun
Preacher held for unauthorised sermon in Johor released on bail
JOHOR BAHRU: A religious preacher detained by the Johor Islamic Religious Department (JAINJ) last Wednesday for allegedly delivering a sermon without authorisation in Pasir Gudang was released the following day on bail. JAINJ director Nasri Md. Ali said the 50-year-old preacher had cooperated fully during his detention. 'He was arrested at 8.30pm on Wednesday and released the next day. He was called in again yesterday and is scheduled to return on July 3 to assist with the ongoing investigation by our enforcement division,' Nasri said when contacted today. Last Thursday he confirmed that the arrest was made with assistance from the Seri Alam District Police under Section 11 of the Johor Syariah Criminal Offences Enactment 1997 for teaching religion without proper credentials. Nasri added that the preacher had previously been detained in 2016 for the same offence and had evaded arrest during a raid in 2020. 'This is the third action taken against him for preaching without credentials. We don't stop anyone from giving sermons, but they must obtain proper authorisation from the Johor Islamic Religious Council, as required in all states,' he said. Earlier, celebrity preacher Ustaz Abdullah Khairi shared a video showing the preacher's arrest in Pasir Gudang.
