'Ratu Balqis' Teachings Under Investigation To Determine If Deviant, Heretical -- Johor Exco

JOHOR BAHRU, April 10 (Bernama) -- Allegations regarding the teachings of ‘Ratu Balqis' are still under investigation to determine whether they are deviant or heretical.

Johor State Islamic Religious Affairs Committee chairman Mohd Fared Mohd Khalid said that the Research Division of the Johor Islamic Religious Department (JAINJ) will provide a detailed report on the matter to the Johor State Fatwa Committee before any decision is made.

"After all the processes are completed, I am confident that if the teachings are indeed deviant (heretical), prosecution will be carried out (in the Syariah Court) and will be announced," he said at a press conference after visiting the Johor State Syariah Judiciary Department here today.

He said this when asked to comment on the developments of the investigation into the teachings.

Mohd Fared said the teachings are believed to have emerged since 2018, which explains why posts related to the teachings have been removed by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).

Meanwhile, he said the influence of the teachings is under control, and its followers include those who were recently detained, including a family member.

Recently, the woman, who is a single mother, also pleaded not guilty at the Sessions Court here to two charges of making and initiating the transmission of offensive communication related to the royal institution via social media last month.

Nurul Huda Mohd Bajuri, 49, had made the plea after the charges were read to her in front of Judge Mohd Azhar Othman.

The media previously reported that three individuals, including a 17-year-old teenager, were detained in Taman Saujana to assist in the investigation regarding the dissemination of content through the TikTok application that contained elements of incitement, defamation, and insults against Islam, the Johor royal institution, the Johor police chief, and the Prime Minister.

Regarding the issue of damage to public lifts at the Johor State Syariah Judiciary Department since early January, Mohd Fared said that further action is being taken to address the matter.

According to him, one of the three broken lifts will be repaired at a cost of RM50,000 starting next Tuesday, and repairs are expected to be completed by April 28.

The cost of repairing the other two lifts, amounting to approximately RM200,000, is expected to be completed by July 27 at the latest, considering that the delivery of spare parts from China will take about two months.

-- BERNAMA