A total of 300 individuals, including 12 alleged leaders and organisers, were detained during a joint operation targeting a gathering linked to the Ahmadiyah Qadiani movement at a school hall in Likas on Saturday.
The operation was carried out by the Sabah Islamic Religious Affairs Department (JHEAINS) and the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) following public complaints regarding activities believed to be contrary to Islamic teachings.
Acting Kota Kinabalu police chief Superintendent Syed Lot Syed Ab Rahman said the raid was launched after JHEAINS received reports on Thursday concerning a programme that had been held from Friday to Saturday.
Investigations found that the event was associated with the Ahmadiyah Qadiani movement, which was declared deviant and inconsistent with Islamic teachings by the Sabah State Fatwa Council and officially gazetted in 2007.
“Authorities detained 300 individuals to assist investigations, comprising 12 leaders and main organisers as well as 288 members of the congregation,” he said in a statement on Monday.
According to Syed Lot, the programme was attended by senior leaders of Jemaah Ahmadiyah Muslim Malaysia (JAMM) as well as members from several districts across Sabah.
During the raid, enforcement officers also seized numerous items believed to be linked to the group’s activities and teachings.
Among the items confiscated were 24 banners displaying images of the founder and senior leaders of the Ahmadiyah Qadiani movement, approximately 200 books and reading materials related to the group’s teachings, programme documents, attendance records, publications and various other materials connected to the gathering.
All individuals detained were taken to the Kota Kinabalu District Police Headquarters (IPD) for documentation and further investigation by JHEAINS before being released on bail in accordance with existing legal provisions.
The case is being investigated under Section 52(1), Section 52A and Section 102 of the Sabah Syariah Criminal Offences Enactment 1995.
Syed Lot urged the public to seek religious guidance only from recognised and authorised sources and to consult religious authorities whenever they have doubts about any teachings or beliefs being promoted.
He also warned that firm action would be taken against any individual or group found to be spreading teachings deemed contrary to Islamic principles under state religious laws.
The operation marks one of the largest enforcement actions of its kind in Sabah in recent years and underscores authorities’ continued efforts to monitor and address activities linked to prohibited religious movements.
