Action against HTM followers if they cross the line – police

JOHOR BAHRU: Action can be taken against followers of Hizb ut-Tahrir Malaysia (HTM) under the Security Offenses (Special Measures) Act 2012 (SOSMA) if they are found to have crossed the line of national security and public order.

Johor Police chief Datuk Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay said, however, no arrests had been made so far, and the case was still under the observation of the Johor Islamic Religious Council (MAINJ).

“The ideology of Hizb utTahrir through HTM (is believed to) reject democracy and labels the Malaysian government as a government of kufr, kafir (infidel) and so on, which must be overthrown using force, but so far, there have been no actions taken in the direction as I mentioned earlier (violence).

“So far there have been no arrests, this is the jurisdiction of the religious department but the police always monitor the movement of this group, if it crosses the line of security, the police will take firm action according to Sosma,” he told reporters at the Johor Contingent Headquarters here, yesterday.

Ayob Khan said this when asked if there were any arrests involving members of the HTM group in the state, following police reports made by several non-governmental organisations (NGOs) over the matter since Sunday (Sept 27).

He confirmed that the Johor Police had received a total of 17 reports against HTM to date, and investigation papers had been opened in accordance with sections 298 and 505 of the Penal Code as well as Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.

According to Ayob Khan, the group is believed to have been active since 2005, with more than 80 followers in the state.

On Wednesday, MAINJ was reported to have rejected any form of discussion and meeting with any group linked to Hizb ut-Tahrir, in line with the fatwa gazetted by the Johor State Fatwa Committee in October last year.

Johor Islamic Religious Affairs Committee chairman Tosrin Jarvanthi had said the state government firmly rejected such a discussion as the belief was found to be contrary to that of Ahli Sunnah Wal Jamaah, and could cause disunity among Muslims in the state.