17 Dec 2006
Audrey Dermawan
GEORGE TOWN: Khalwat raids can continue. As long as state religious enforcement officers adhere to the law, they are free to discharge their duties.
Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) director-general Datuk Mustafa Abdul Rahman has dismissed an idea to stop snooping and spying on couples in close proximity.
The idea was proposed by Perlis Mufti Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin, who said the eagerness to look for couples to be charged with khalwat was against the Islamic principles of privacy and it was an act of trespassing.
Mustafa rejected Asri’s proposal, saying it was merely the view of an individual.
"I will meet him soon to seek a clarification.
"Since the laws and rulings are drawn up based on consultation, it is best if all parties involved share similar views," he said after opening the Halal Week 2006 event here yesterday.
Asri, who explained he was only trying to present Islam in its modern face, had announced that the Perlis government would hold a seminar on khalwat prevention based on correct Islamic principles.
Mustafa, however, insisted that state religious authorities only carried out thorough checks, such as going through hotel guest lists, following public complaints.
"There are certain procedures they need to abide by," he added.
On another matter, Mustafa said from 2003 to November this year, Jakim had issued halal certification to some 3,395 companies and conducted checks at 107,000 premises nationwide.
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