Latest news with #JohorSyariahCriminalOffencesEnactment1997
The Sun
7 days ago
- 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.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Popular preacher arrested in Johor for unlicensed religious sermon, video sparks online debate
JOHOR BARU, May 29 — The Johor Islamic Religious Department (JAINJ) arrested Muslim preacher Ustaz Mat Esa Deraman, popularly known as Tok Ku Pasir Gudang, for delivering a religious sermon without state-mandated accreditation at a house in Pasir Gudang last night. The arrest was carried out at 8.30pm by JAINJ's enforcement division, with assistance from the Seri Alam district police. Following that, a two-minute and 58-second video of Mat Esa's arrest was widely circulated on social media. Celebrity preacher Ustaz Abdullah Khairi shared the footage on his Facebook page, questioning the circumstances of the arrest and Mat Esa's subsequent detention in a lock-up. JAINJ director Nasri Md Ali said the arrest was made under Section 11 of the Johor Syariah Criminal Offences Enactment 1997 for teaching religion without a license or permit. 'I can confirm that the speaker is still under the department's investigation,' he said when contacted by the media today. Nasri said checks revealed that the speaker in question is known to give talks to congregations and broadcasts the sessions live on social media. 'The house where he conducts his talks is the residence of another individual that is used as a place for religious talks on a daily basis after maghrib and subuh prayers. 'When the arrest was made, there were several people in the house where the live session were said to be broadcasted on Facebook and Youtube. 'However, checks showed that the speaker's latest video has since been deleted,' he said. Nasri said the speaker's act of conducting sermons without a valid license or permit was among the complaints brought to the department's attention. 'We had prior instructions from JAINJ's licensing committee to take action on him,' he said. Based on records, Nasri said the speaker was arrested by the department in 2016 for giving a sermon without valid accreditation. He added that the same speaker was also investigated, but managed to flee from a JAINJ enforcement raid, during a sermon in 2020. 'This is the third time that the department has taken action on him for teaching or giving religious talks without a license or permit,' he said, adding that the requirement is similar to other states that also require the preachers or organisers to obtain a valid license or permit prior to giving their talks.
The Sun
29-05-2025
- The Sun
Preacher detained on suspicion of teaching without accreditation
JOHOR BAHRU: Johor Islamic Religious Department (JAINJ) detained a 50-year-old religious preacher last night on suspicion of teaching without valid credentials at a house in Pasir Gudang. JAINJ director Nasri Md Ali said the department's Enforcement Division, assisted by the Seri Alam District Police Headquarters, detained the local man at 8.30 pm to facilitate investigations under Section 11 of the Johor Syariah Criminal Offences Enactment 1997 for teaching religion without proper accreditation. 'The preacher delivered his sermon to a congregation and streamed it live on social media. The house, which belongs to another individual, had been used as a venue for daily religious lectures after Maghrib and Subuh prayers. 'At the time of the arrest, several individuals were listening to his lecture at the house, and the session was being livestreamed on Facebook and YouTube, but the video has since been deleted,' he said when contacted today. He elaborated that a complaint regarding the preacher had been raised during a council meeting earlier this month, and JAINJ was instructed to take action. 'According to records, the preacher was previously detained in 2016 for the same offence. In 2020, the department conducted another raid, but he managed to escape. 'We hope that anyone intending to deliver religious talks in Johor will first obtain proper accreditation from the Johor Islamic Religious Council,' he added.
Barnama
29-05-2025
- Barnama
Preacher Detained On Suspicion Of Teaching Without Accreditation
JOHOR BAHRU, May 29 (Bernama) -- Johor Islamic Religious Department (JAINJ) detained a 50-year-old religious preacher last night on suspicion of teaching without valid credentials at a house in Pasir Gudang. JAINJ director Nasri Md Ali said the department's Enforcement Division, assisted by the Seri Alam District Police Headquarters, detained the local man at 8.30 pm to facilitate investigations under Section 11 of the Johor Syariah Criminal Offences Enactment 1997 for teaching religion without proper accreditation. 'The preacher delivered his sermon to a congregation and streamed it live on social media. The house, which belongs to another individual, had been used as a venue for daily religious lectures after Maghrib and Subuh prayers.
