No chance of Arqam being revived: Muhyiddin

The government will be monitoring closely Al-Arqam-type activities to ensure the banned organisation is not revived, said Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin ( right ).

"The media has exposed that such activities are taking place, we (govt) are watching.

"We do not want a repeat (of Al-Arqam activities)," he said after chairing a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Foreign Workers and Illegal Immigrants in Putrajaya today.

Also present were Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein and Human Resource Minister S Subramaniam.

Muhyiddin said this when asked to comment on a newspaper report today that followers of Al-Arqam's founder, the late Ashaari Muhammad or better known as Abuya, were back in action and had held a special concert to convey a message that their leader was not dead and would return very soon.

The concert was held four days after Ashaari, 73, died a the KPJ Ipoh Specialist Centre on May 13 of lung infection.

Commenting further, Muhyiddin urged the family and followers of Ashaari to accept the fact that he had died and heed a fatwa (decree) that the Al-Arqam movement was illegal.

"That was the decision taken by the National Fatwa Council and endorsed by all state religious council besides Jakim (Malaysian Islamic Development Department).

"All of them took the decision to ban Al-Arqam.

"As such, the question does not arise whether Al-Arqam can be revived. We as Muslims must realise that humans are not immortal.

"The belief that Ashaari is immortal is contrary to Islamic teachings and we cannot allow such deviant beliefs to take root," he said.

Meanwhile, Hishammuddin gave the assurance that the authorities were on top of the matter and said he hoped the people will not become worried over it.

"There is no reason why anybody should be unduly concerned about this because the facts and position is very clear unless you believe that someone who died can arise again.

"That itself is beyond anybody's thoughts and teachings no matter what religion you profess.

"Anybody who is a risk to the security of the nation and brings teachings that will confuse and goes against the tenets of Islam will be under the watch of the ministry. That is our responsibility," he said.

- Bernama