Selangor authorities are probing an Islamic cult targeting young professionals whose practices include taking new devotees blindfolded to training and initiation centres.

Islamic authorities from Selangor said the Gerakan Pemuda Kahfi was thought to have started three years ago and had strange and secretive practices.

"The leaders are very sleek. They dress well when approaching their potential victims," a spokesman from the Selangor Islamic Religious Department, Fakrul Azam Yahya, was quoted as saying in the Star daily.

"The victims are blindfolded when taken to the movement's training centres," he said.

Deviant teachings

Fakrul Azam said the group was targeting young Muslim professionals and executives, known as yuppies, who pay RM1,000 to join.

He added that authorities are gathering evidence before a possible fatwa or edict against the group.

"We are especially keen to obtain a copy of their scriptures as it will allow us to scrutinise the roots of its deviant teachings," he was quoted as saying in the New Straits Times .

Religion is a sensitive issue in the majority Muslim nation, where Islamic authorities are always on the lookout for cults said to deviate from mainstream Islamic practice.