About 5,000 complaints have been lodged with the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) relating to articles or provocative statements insulting Islam and Prophet Muhammad.

Minister in the PM’s Department Mujahid Yusof Rawa (photo) said these were some of tens of thousands of complaints received by Jakim’s monitoring unit since being set up in March to monitor provocative writings in all media platforms including social media.

“Since the online complaint (platform) was opened, we received many complaints, and there was a time when the unit received up to 10,000 complaints a day.

“Of these, about 5,000 complaints were referred to the police and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) for further action,” he said at a seminar in Bangi today.

Also present at the seminar were Jakim director-general Mohamad Nordin Ibrahim and president of the Islamic Dakwah Foundation of Malaysia (Yadim) Nik Omar Nik Abdul Aziz.

Mujahid said offenders in four cases were found guilty and sentenced in court.

The unit was launched on March 8 to look into cases insulting Prophet Muhammad and to ridicule Islam.

- Bernama