DEVIANT GROUP RUNNING KINDERGARTENS
Kelantan Islamic dept says owner using venues as cover for group’s activities
THE Kelantan Islamic Religious Affairs Department h as found more than five kindergartens being operated by deviant group Asmaul Husna Wan Maseri to spread its teaching and activities.
Department director Datuk Che Mohd Rahim Jusoh said the kindergartens were located in several districts, including Kota Baru and Bachok.
He said the kindergartens were set up by one of its followers, a woman, last December as venues for the group to spread its teachings and activities. “The department had received information on the Asmaul Husna Wan Maseri deviant group’s operations at Pulau Mukhlisin near Danau Tok Uban, Pasir Mas last September.
“Following the report, we sent religious officers to investigate the case and found proof of the deviant teachings.
“We have been monitoring the place even before a fatwa was issued against the group’s teachings. It is expected to be issued soon,” he said at his office yesterday.
On the kindergartens, he said the department was monitoring their operations as they received reports that the owner was using the venues as a cover for the
group’s activities.
“The owner of the kindergarten had employed other followers (of the group) as her staff members. The staff members are young and educated and would help her recruit more members (for the deviant group).
“To cover their activities, the kindergartens organise motivation camps for children, but in actuality, it is a cover for gatherings involving the group.”
He said the department’s investigation
showed that the group had between 20 and 30 hardcore followers in Kelantan.
“We could not seal the premises as they are on individually owned land.
“At the moment, we can only monitor the area regularly to prevent the venue from being used for the deviant group’s teachings.
“We will take the next move once the fatwa is issued. At the moment, the Asmaul Husna Wan
Maseri deviant teachings are banned in several states such as Negri Sembilan and Pahang.”
Asked whether the group is the only deviant entity active in Kelantan, he said the department had also identified another group.
“The other group is known as ‘Ismail Kassim’ and operates in Lubok Kuin near Gunung Bachok. The group was detected last year and we are also monitoring it before the is issued.”