SEREMBAN: The Negri Sembilan Islamic Religious Affairs Department has detained 18 women over their alleged involvement in a deviant group known as Kumpulan Zikir Asmaul Husna during a raid at a house in Johol, Kuala Pilah today.
Its enforcement chief Ahmad Zaki Hamzah said the women, aged between 20 and 60, were listening to a religious talk by the founder of the group when the raid was conducted at 9.30am.
He said several documents, books and equipment believed to be used by the group were also seized.
"Most of the followers of the group are housewives, some staying outside the state, and they are believed to have been recruited via the WhatsApp and Telegram.
"There was an edict (fatwa) by the State Mufti Department that the teachings by the group are against the teachings of the Ahli Sunnah Wal Jamaah and its founder was even summoned to the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) to pledge his repentance in Feb 2021," he told reporters here today (Feb 27).
He said the group is believed to have followers all over the country and was attempting to spread its teachings to Indonesia. -- Bernama