Islamic preacher Wan Ji Wan Hussin wants the Selangor Islamic Department (Jais) to provide proof how his teachings thus far have been "deviant" in nature.

In a Facebook posting today, the preacher expressed hope that Jais would be able to explain how his teachings can be considered deviant under the Syariah Criminal Offences (Selangor) Enactment.

Wan Ji  ( left ) pointed out that celebrities who have "repented", and who give lectures in mosques in Selangor, cannot be regarded as guilty as they do not spread deviant teachings.

"Therefore, I need proof as to how ‘deviant’ my teachings have been thus far," he said, adding that he had used the Fathul Bari kitab , which is a popular commentary on the hadith collection by al-Bukhari.

Selangor Islamic authorities last night briefly detained Wan Ji after he delivered a religious talk. without a permit at a surau in Section 17, Shah Alam.

After the lecture, he was taken away for questioning for an hour before being released at around 10.30pm.

Wan Ji was asked to go to Jais' office on Monday (Feb 23) for investigation purposes.

When contacted, Wan Ji said he would not take his lawyer along to the 9am meeting with Jais.

“I have told my lawyer about this, but I think I will go there alone,” he said, also confirming that five Jais officers took him in for the questioning last night.

The preacher also confirmed that last night was the first time he had been detained for teaching without tauliah (credentials).

However, he said, he was not sure whether anyone had tipped off the enforcement officers over last night's ceramah.

Wan Ji, who gives lectures every night in mosques around Selangor, said Jais' move will not stop him from giving lectures.

“I will give a Friday sermon today and I also have a lecture tonight,” he said.

Under scrutiny

This is not the first time Wan Ji's activities have been scrutinised by the authorities.

In 2012, he was charged with publishing seditious material insulting the Sultan of Selangor through his Facebook page.

For this, Wan Ji was charged under Section 4(1)(C) of the Sedition Act 1948.

This is an offence punishable under Section 4(1) of the same Ac, for which the punishment is a fine of up to RM5,000 or imprisonment of up to three years, or both, upon conviction.

Wan Ji is not the only religious scholar who has gotten in trouble with Jais for 'teaching Islam without credentials'.

Current Perlis mufti Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin had also been charged in court under the same provision on 18 Nov 2009.

Mohd Asri, popularly known as Dr Maza, was acquitted by the syariah lower court on May 20 last year.

The syariah judge said Jais had failed to prove its case against Dr Maza.