The Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) has teamed up with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to crack down on deviant religious teachings online.

Jakim director-general Othman Mustapha said this following allegations that video clips uploaded on "Ustaz" on YouTube failed to adhere to the teachings of Islam in the country.

"Realising (that netizens) can obtain Islam-related information through forms in writting, pictures and video, we always monitor the information spread through the social media, websites and blogs," Othman said in a statement today.

"Jakim works closely with MCMC on matters involving the new media and with the Communications and Multimedia Ministry, which deals with the electronic media," the statement said.

Othman ( photo ) also described the religious cleric featured on the "Ustaz" site on YouTube as as "a lecturer without any credentials".

Jakim would therefore work with state religious departments, religious councils, and the offices of the state muftis and act accordingly to curb any teaching that breaches the country's laws.

"We take an open attitude and welcome any form of suggestion and cooperation from various parties to crack down on any act, deviant thoughts or activities that could affect the pureness of religious teaching and the harmony of Muslims," the statement said.

Syariah Prosecution Department for Kelantan

Meanwhile, the Kelantan government has set up a new Syariah Prosecution Department as a measure to improve the implementation of syariah criminal law and pave the way for prosecution under hudud in the state.

Such prosecution is currently under the jurisdiction of Kelantan Islamic Affairs Department (Jaheaik), the press secretary of the Kelantan mentri besar, Mohd Asri Mat Daud, said.

"The separation is meant to ensure the integrity and transparency of administration from the aspects of enforcement, prosecution and the judiciary," Mohd Asri said.

This would allow the prosecution to develop into a more professional, efficient and systematic body, he said.

According to him, Kelantan is among the 11 states that have been given approval to establish an Islamic law prosecution department, and is the first state to set up the new entity.

“The Kelantan government has completed its preparation to implement the Syariah Criminal Code (hudud) and it is up to the federal government to do the rest - to approve (the hudud-related bill)," Menteri Besar Ahmad Yaakob said at the launching of the department.

PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang tabled a Private Member’s Bill on hudud in Parliament in March this year, following the amendment of Syariah Criminal Code 1993 passed by the Kelantan state legislative assembly.

The matter was on the Order Paper, but it did not come up for debate until the Parliament session ended.

Hadi’s bill seeks to amend a federal law, the Syariah Court (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965, to pave the way for the implementation of hudud in Kelantan and the other states.

However, Culture and Tourism Minister Nazri Abdul Aziz has said that any bill related to religion must get the green light from the Conference of Rulers before it is brought to Parliament.

Hadi has maintained that he wants hudud to be approved by Parliament, so that the Islamic penal code can be implemented in Kelantan.