KOTA BHARU: A meeting between the Islamic development department, Jakim, and “celebrity” preachers will be held at the end of this month to preserve the good name of religious groups and Islam itself, said the deputy minister for religious affairs, Ahmad Marzuk Shaary.
He said the meeting would also convey a message of harmony from the government.
Ahmad Marzuk said several matters that had been sensationalised recently had given a bad image to Islam even though only a few people were involved.
“We expect to gather this group of celebrity preachers at the end of December,” he said here.
He had been asked for comment on a participant in an Islamic missionary reality television programme and various allegations of sexual misconduct.
“We know that even if such a case is an isolated case, but when it involves a preacher, it will definitely give a bad image, especially to Islam,” he said.
On Thursday, preacher Syed Shah Iqmal Syed Mohammad Shaiful, 24, known as Da’i Syed pleaded not guilty at separate courts in Petaling Jaya to charges of committing unnatural sex and using criminal force on a private college student with intent to outrage her modesty two months ago.
Ahmad Marzuk, who is MP for Pengkalan Chepa, was here to present contributions to 250 fishermen in the Kijang state seat who have been unable to go out to sea during the monsoon season. He said fishermen and farmers in Panchor and Chempaka constituencies would also receive assistance.