Misuse of religious institutions must be urgently curbed - Kelantan Mufti

KOTA BHARU - The public has been urged not to overlook any activities that could tarnish the image of Islam, including the use of pondok schools (traditional religious schools), madrasah and tahfiz schools, for alleged illicit activities such as money laundering or deviant teachings.

Kelantan Mufti Datuk Mohamad Shukri Mohamad warned that a complacent attitude towards such matters could pave the way for moral corruption, ultimately undermining the credibility of religious institutions.

"All forms of activities that lead to depravity are prohibited in Islam, and any proceeds from such illicit activities are deemed haram. Allah is Most Beautiful and accepts only what is lawful and pure.

"I would also like to express my gratitude to the Royal Malaysia Police for taking proactive measures to identify potential activities that could compromise the integrity of religious institutions in the state,” he told Bernama recently.

Shukri said that so far, no complaints have been received regarding the claims, adding that the authorities’ prompt action reflects their dedication to protecting the sanctity of Islam and its institutions.

He also reminded the public not to make negative assumptions about all pondok schools or madrasah, but rather to support and reinforce their role in providing faith-based education.

Yesterday, Kelantan police chief Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mamat confirmed receiving information indicating that several unregistered madrasah in the state are being used for money laundering activities.

He said, based on information obtained, about half of the madrasah in the state are not registered with the Kelantan Islamic Religion and Malay Customs Council (MAIK).

He said police were keeping a close watch on several unregistered madrasah, pondok schools, and tahfiz centres to prevent misuse of funds and the spread of deviant teachings. - BERNAMA