BATU PAHAT: Three men will be charged at the Batu Pahat Syariah Court today after a viral video allegedly showed elements of djinn worship during a Kuda Kepang performance in Parit Raja.
The charges were confirmed by Johor Islamic Affairs Committee chairman Mohd Fared Mohd Khalid, who said the case would be heard in court today.
The video, which was widely shared on Facebook and TikTok, showed ritual-like acts with two men appearing to fall into a trance. The footage prompted immediate intervention by state authorities.
Yesterday, Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi ordered the Johor Islamic Religious Department (JAINJ) and the police to investigate the incident and take enforcement action.
He said the state would not tolerate any practice involving superstition, sorcery, or rituals that contradict Islamic teachings.
“Islam calls for harmony, peace and mutual respect. Every Muslim has a responsibility to safeguard the faith. Johor will not compromise with any party that threatens the harmony and sovereignty of Islam,” Onn Hafiz said in a statement.
He also said that His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, the King of Malaysia, and His Royal Highness Tunku Ismail, the Regent of Johor, had urged religious institutions to strengthen enforcement and education to protect Muslims from deviant practices.
The Kuda Kepang dance, which is of Javanese origin, remains a cultural performance in Johor, especially in Batu Pahat. However, religious authorities have repeatedly stressed that it has no place in Islamic worship.
Fared reiterated the religious department and council’s commitment to safeguarding the faith of Muslims in Johor.
“The state government takes a firm stance on upholding Islamic values,” he said. He added that the King and the regent consistently emphasised that all activities and traditions in Johor align with true Islamic teachings.
He said the council will ensure all departments and agencies under the Johor Islamic Affairs will work in unison to preserve the sanctity of Islam.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
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