Mohd Naim calls for tighter regulation of independent Islamic preachers amid sex video scandal
He said that the process of screening the background, character and qualifications of independent preachers and missionaries who operate without the recognition or supervision from an authoritative institution also needs to be strengthened to ensure the teachings delivered bring benefit, not slander.
'I would like to remind every preacher, missionary and individual who carries the image of Islam, especially independent religious figures, to always uphold good morals, integrity, and self-respect in accordance with Islamic teachings.
'Holding the position of a preacher is not a licence to exploit religion for personal gain or to engage in immoral or unlawful behaviour,' he said in a Facebook post today.
Mohd Naim said the MADANI Government is also committed to strengthening a more structured, professional, and integrity-driven preaching ecosystem.
In this regard, he said, his office, together with Yayasan Dakwah Islamiah Malaysia (YADIM), organised programmes such as Felo Muda Dakwah (FMD) and Akademi Daie Muda YADIM (ADMY), which focused on efforts to produce young preachers in the country.
'To date, 364 individuals have undergone intensive training under both programmes since they were introduced in 2014. This is part of the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs)'s ongoing effort to produce preachers who embody the values of a MADANI ummah,' he said.
Commenting on a recent case involving an independent speaker suspected of disseminating sex videos, Mohd Naim said the incident had serious negative implications, not only damaging the dignity of the individual involved but also tarnishing the image of the dakwah institution and undermining public trust in religious leadership.
He also urged the public to give the authorities space to conduct a thorough, fair, and transparent investigation and not to be hasty in making sweeping generalisations or judgments.
'At the same time, we must firmly reject the culture of public shaming one another, especially when it is driven by motives of influence-seeking or personal intention,' he said
It was previously reported that the police had arrested a freelance preacher suspected of distributing several explicit videos and images allegedly aimed at shaming his wife and other women. — Bernama
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Free Malaysia Today
an hour ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Sarawak group proposes voluntary DLP tests for SJKC pupils
An association representing Chinese primary schools said participation of pupils in the dual language programme would require formal approval from the federal education ministry. (Facebook pic) PETALING JAYA : Some Chinese primary schools (SJKC) in Sarawak are considering allowing pupils to voluntarily sit for the dual language programme assessment, despite their exclusion from the programme. Jonathan Chai, president of the Association of Aided Chinese Primary Schools in the Kuching, Samarahan, and Serian divisions, said the proposal is being considered as a way to assess pupils' academic performance in science and mathematics. However, Chai warned that the results might not offer a complete picture, The Borneo Post reported. 'Since SJKCs are not officially part of the dual language programme, any data gathered would mainly serve as an internal benchmark,' he told reporters after a visit to SJKC Chung Hua Batu 11 in Matang. He said SJKC pupils could potentially sit for the test voluntarily within their own schools for self-evaluation purposes. He emphasised that full participation in the DLP would require formal approval from the federal education ministry. 'For now, we continue to teach science and mathematics in Mandarin, which remains the most effective method for the majority of our students,' he said. Chai also pointed to a changing student population, noting that around 40% of SJKC pupils now come from non-Chinese backgrounds – prompting a reassessment of the current language policy. 'We are also paying close attention to the outcomes of DLP assessments in national primary schools,' he added. 'If those results indicate significant gains in student performance, it may influence our future direction,' he added. In May last year, state deputy education minister Annuar Rapaee said the DLP programme, currently implemented in national primary schools, will be extended to secondary schools across the state.


Free Malaysia Today
an hour ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Acting ministers key to continuity, says Johari
Johari Ghani (left) was named the acting natural resources and environmental sustainability minister yesterday, while Amir Hamzah Azizan has taken on the duties and functions of the economy minister. PETALING JAYA : Appointing acting ministers to fill vacant Cabinet posts is crucial to ensure continuity, especially with the upcoming parliamentary meeting set to begin on July 21, said plantation and commodities minister Johari Ghani. Johari, who has been tasked with temporarily overseeing the natural resources and environmental sustainability ministry, said appointing acting ministers is also necessary to address pressing issues under the ministries' purview. 'When there's a vacancy, the prime minister appoints someone to take on the role temporarily,' he told reporters after officiating the Kuantan Umno division delegates meeting today. 'With Parliament about to sit, there will be questions that require answers. For example, the economy ministry needs to finalise the 13th Malaysia Plan, so someone has to be appointed to get the job done quickly. 'That's why an acting role is important to resolve critical matters within the next month or two.' Yesterday, chief secretary Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar said the Cabinet had agreed that Johari will carry out the roles and functions of the natural resources and environmental sustainability minister effective immediately. This comes after PKR's Setiawangsa MP Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad stepped down as the minister in May. Last month, the Cabinet agreed for finance minister II Amir Hamzah Azizan to take on the duties and functions of the economy minister following Rafizi Ramli's resignation. Amir was also tasked with overhauling the 13MP, which will be tabled in Parliament on July 31. Rafizi and Nik Nazmi quit their Cabinet positions after failing to defend their posts of deputy president and vice-president, respectively, at PKR's party elections in May.


Free Malaysia Today
an hour ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Population size not sole reason for larger Sarawak assembly, says Fadillah
PBB vice-president Fadillah Yusof, who is MP for Petra Jaya, speaking at a constituency event today. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : Sarawak's decision to increase the size of the state assembly was not solely based on the size of the population, says PBB vice-president Fadillah Yusof. Responding to criticism of the decision to add 17 more seats, Fadillah said the legislative assembly also took into account the state's ethnic makeup and administrative needs. 'Some say this criterion should be based on population size. However, we have to look not only at the size of the population, but the size of the area as well as (to ensure fairer) representation of ethnic groups,' Bernama quoted him as saying. He said Sarawak is almost as large as Peninsular Malaysia in land area. (Sarawak covers 124,450 sq km, while the peninsula covers 132,490 sq km.) Fadillah said the addition of state assembly seats meant there will be more elected representatives for rural areas, which would allow for the voices of the local community to be heard when it came to formulating policies. 'I support this move because it will provide more effective administration for us to develop Sarawak,' he told reporters after attending an event at his parliamentary constituency of Petra Jaya. Last week, the Sarawak assembly passed a bill to increase the number of seats in the assembly from 82 to 99. State minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, who tabled the bill, said the increase was warranted to accommodate population growth, urban sprawl and vast rural areas. However, the decision came under fire from Thomas Fann, chairman of electoral reform group Engage, who said there was no justification for adding more seats. He said Sarawak was already among the most over-represented of all state assemblies. He said electoral imbalances would be worsened and public resources placed under strain. A former deputy chairman of the Election Commission, Wan Ahmad Wan Omar, said Sarawak's decision appeared to be politically motivated.