Event venue owners and operators have been urged to be more cautious when renting out their premises following the arrest of hundreds of individuals linked to a gathering involving a group deemed deviant by religious authorities.
Likas assemblyman Tham Yun Fook said venue operators should conduct basic background checks on organisers and understand the purpose of events before approving bookings.
According to Tham, while property owners may not be directly responsible for activities conducted on their premises, they still carry a moral and social responsibility to ensure their facilities are not used for programmes that could trigger controversy, disrupt public order or violate existing laws.
His remarks came after authorities detained 300 individuals, including 12 organisers and group leaders, during a raid at a school hall in Likas. The operation was launched following complaints from members of the public.
The two-day gathering was reportedly linked to Jemaah Ahmadiyah Qadiani, a group that was declared deviant by the Sabah Fatwa Council Committee in 2007.
During the raid, enforcement officers seized banners displaying images of the group’s founder and leaders, as well as books, documents, attendance records and other related materials.
Tham, who represents Parti Warisan, praised both the police and the Sabah Islamic Religious Affairs Department (JHEAINS) for their swift and professional handling of the operation.
He stressed that activities which contradict existing fatwas and regulations should not be taken lightly, warning that such programmes could create confusion among the public and potentially affect religious harmony.
Tham also called for stronger cooperation between enforcement agencies, venue operators and the wider community to ensure Sabah remains peaceful, harmonious and respectful of the law.
He added that increased awareness and vigilance from all parties would help prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future while safeguarding social stability in the state.
