KUALA LUMPUR: The government will play its role to ensure Muslims in the country hold on to the teachings of Ahli Sunnah Wal Jamaah, said Datuk Mohd Na'im Mokhtar.
The Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) told the Dewan Rakyat that the government was concerned about the spread of teachings that were seen as deviant, extremist and distorted from the ideologies of the Ahli Sunnah Wal Jamaah, including the ideologies of Khawarrij and Takfiri.
He said the government would also focus on uniting the ummah, apart from the efforts to combat the deviated teachings.
"The government continuously monitors the teaching of Islam, whether through lectures in public places such as mosques and suraus, or through social media, to foster unity and prevent deviation from the teachings of Ahli Sunnah Wal Jamaah.
"The state mufti departments nationwide require teaching permits to regulate individuals, both domestic and foreign, who are not qualified from delivering teachings in authorised premises."
He said this during the winding-up debate of the royal address for his ministry in Parliament today.
Commenting on the issue of lawyer Nik Elin Zurina Nik Abdul Rashid, who challenged the provisions of Kelantan's syariah criminal code enactment, Mohd Na'im said a special committee on the matter would prepare a report based on its findings.
"The report by the Special Committee Studying Issues Related to the Competence of State Legislative Assembly to Enact Islamic Laws will be prepared within six months to a year.
"It will then be presented to the Malaysian National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs and the Conference of Rulers before it is presented to the cabinet.
"I ask for all parties to be patient and give space to the special committee to conduct their studies before they can come up with recommendations on the issue.
"The public also should not worry about the Federal Constitution's decision on the Nik Elin case," he added.