Home ministry mulls amending Poca to handle cult groups

 

Jempol MP Shamshulkahar Deli asked whether Putrajaya has plans to enact a new law to curb the spread of cult groups, citing GISBH, which had several homes linked to it raided by the police in September. (PDRM pic)

PETALING JAYA: 

The home ministry is studying the use of preventive laws like the currently suspended Prevention of Crime Act 1959 (Poca) to deal with cult groups.

Its minister, Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, said this is because laws that were punitive in nature may not be able to tackle the issue of cults holistically.

In a written parliamentary reply, Saifuddin said the ministry will hold engagements with stakeholders if there is a need to amend Poca to expand it to cover cult groups.

Arrests under Poca have been suspended since 2022 after the Federal Court ruled that several sections in the Act contravened the Federal Constitution.

Last week, deputy home minister Shamsul Anuar Nasarah said another engagement with stakeholders will be held soon to discuss proposed amendments to the law before it is tabled in the Dewan Rakyat next year.

Saifuddin was responding to Shamshulkahar Deli (BN-Jempol), who asked if the government planned to enact a new law to curb the spread of cults more effectively, citing the controversial Global Ikhwan Services and Business Holdings (GISBH).

The National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs’s muzakarah committee has said the teachings spread by GISBH CEO Nasiruddin Ali were deviant.

In September, police raided 20 welfare homes linked to the company and rescued 402 children, some of whom were allegedly sexually abused or taught to assault others.

Since then, more than 600 children have been rescued from GISBH-linked welfare homes.

Last month, Nasiruddin and Adib At-Tamimi Ashaari, the son of the late Al-Arqam founder, were among 21 people charged with being members of an organised criminal group since 2020. - FMT