Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Jamil Khir Baharom has suggested that Islamic Department enforcement officers be equipped with firearms while on duty.

“We want the safety aspect to be upgraded. The enforcement officers can be  given firearms during operations or we can have more patrols on their homes,” he said after presenting school uniforms worth RM3.7 million to 17,912 students on behalf of Federal Territory Islamic Council Baitulmal in Kuala Lumpur today.

The suggestion followed the killing of a senior Pahang Islamic Department (Jaip) officer in Kuantan, on Sunday.

Jaip chief enforcement officer Ahmad Raffli Ab Malik,49, was shot dead at close range by one of three men who came to his house at Indera Mahkota 2, Kuantan.

Ahmad Raffli was reportedly involved in conducting two high profile syariah cases in Pahang, the ‘Tuhan Harun’ deviationist group and the Shiite group.

Jamil said the two suggestions will be forwarded to the police for further action and hopes this cooperation can safeguard and maintain  public order.

There are eight deviationist groups involved in spreading false teachings  nationwide.

“They do not have many followers and spread their teachings quietly. The teachings are spread by word of mouth,” he added.

- Bernama