Johor Islamic Religious Affairs Committee chairman Mohd Fared Mohd Khalid (middle, seated) looking at one of the new sewing machines provided at the Johor Islamic Religious Council (MAIJ) Sewing Skills Centre at Taman Bukit Dahlia, Pasir Gudang.
PASIR GUDANG: The Johor Islamic Religious Council (MAIJ) has thwarted an attempt to spread teachings of the Millah Abraham sect, which has been declared as deviant, in the state.
“We received a report about such an attempt by the cult," state Islamic religious affairs committee chairman Mohd Fared Mohd Khalid told the media on Wednesday (July 17).
"This attempt has been foiled by MAIJ, and we have been working closely with Bukit Aman on this.
“So far, (the sect's) movement is being closely monitored, and we will continue to ensure that such teachings will not be allowed to enter the state,” he added when met after officiating the MAIJ Sewing Skills Centre at Taman Bukit Dahlia here.
However, Fared added that the government's main concern is the spread of such teachings via social media.
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“We can stop them physically, but our efforts will be in vain if the people do not protect themselves from being swayed by this teaching through YouTube or TikTok.
“Our advice is that if you come across such content, just ignore it and do not waste your time on it," he added.
Fared had been asked to comment on the Negri Sembilan Islamic Religious Affairs Department's July 10 detention of three members of a family suspected of following the sect.
Those detained were a married couple in their 40s and their 16-year-old son, who does not attend school.
On the Sewing Skills Centre, Fared said 40 women from B40 families have been selected to take part in sewing classes as part of the government's effort to help poor families improve their income.
“The centre was introduced last year in Danga Bay, but we have decided to move it to Pasir Gudang as the teachers are from the nearby community college.
“Last year, we managed to produce 30,000 pairs of school uniforms that we gave to students from poor families in March.
“Each participant can earn RM2,000 a month after being taught skills in sewing,” he said, adding that MAIJ is planning to open similar centres in all 10 districts in Johor.
Fared added that the former skills centre in Danga Bay now offers cooking classes where participants are taught how to make sambal and sell the frozen product online.
