The Selangor Islamic Affairs Department (Jais) is encouraging the sin of spying to embarrass others (tajassus), through its application which allows users to report syariah crimes, Bukit Bendera MP Zairil Khir Johari said today.

While it is commendable to provide information on Jais's services and the nearest mosque, Zairil said, the option to report crimes like khalwat (close proximity) encourages tajassus, which is equally condemned in Islam.

He said this was stressed in verse 12 of the chapter al-Hujurat of the Quran, which calls on the faithful not to spy on others, just to find fault.

In the verse, those who do so are said to be worse than cannibals.

Perlis' guideline for khalwat raids also notes that tip-offs from those who commit tajassus are not valid, Zairil said.

"In other words, information cannot be obtained from tajassus. Instead, it can only be if something is done clearly, for example, if the syariah crime is committed outside of someone's home, or was clearly audible for an accuser to be confident that a wrong is being committed.

"It is true that all Muslims must encourage good behaviour and curb wrongdoing, but this cannot be achieved by encouraging the act of spying to uncover sins done in private, especially if it is not in the public interest," he said.

Zairil said Prophet Muhammad also spoke against the act of speaking ill of others, which he said is worse than committing zina (extra-marital sex).

"If this is the case, could this application also see reports against aunties and uncles gossiping in coffee shops?" he asked.

Similarly, he said, the application gives emphasis on private sins like khalwat, when resources can be better spent on halting illegal logging in Kelantan, river pollution in Selangor and the rise in domestic violence.

"What about corruption and kleptocracy, which are now becoming synonymous with Malaysia?

"Are private sins more harmful than a leader using a private bank account to divert ill-gotten gains? Could this application include such wrongs?" Zairil asked.

"More importantly, can spying to uncover khalwat help us face what is the biggest case of corruption in our history?"

However, Jais director Haris Kasim defended the controversial mobile app, saying that Muslim should not be afraid of it.

“There is nothing to be afraid of if you are not doing anything wrong. So what is wrong with the app?” he was quoted as saying by news portal Free Malaysia Today (FMT).

Because of the app, people would think twice before committing offences like khalwat, he said.

Jais will also scrutinise every report made through the app, in accorandance to its standard operating procedure (SOP), he said.

"This is to filter out any false allegations and prevent people from being humiliated publicly,” he said.

Jais will only begin the investigation on the complaint once the scrutiny process is completed, he added.