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Satanic Group Exposes Government Failures in Malaysia
KUALA LUMPUR, July 19 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Despite exposing the activities of an occult "satanic" musical group in Malaysia, authorities came under a rain of criticism from the public and opposition on Thursday.
The Islamic Party of Malaysia (PAS) said it had informed relevant authorities on the island of Penang concerning the lewd and suspicious activities of the "Black Metal" group.
No action, however, was taken, allowing the group to make inroads in local schools and even kindergartens.
The situation worsened to such an extent that the group became a Pan-Malaysian organization, enrolling young Malay-Muslims within its fold.
The police on Thursday arrested two leaders of the "satanic group" and identified 25 members, mostly students, in the Kuala Muda district of Kedah, Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamed's home state.
People in Penang, Kedah and Perlis have also criticized the role played by the respective authorities in tackling the group with seriousness a few months ago.
"A few months ago, [the] PAS in Penang had already informed the police and the religious board in Bukit Mertajam over the issue. But nothing has been done. Now only they come out with the story after it has already affected a large number of students," a party member on the island state said.
Haji Yusuf Haji Omar of the PAS said he had reasons to believe the group was based in Bukit Mertajam, and that he informed authorities there about the group's strange behaviors. "But they did not like our critical views at that time," he added.
He also said that it was a government problem that sees criticism from the opposition as negative and afterwards tries to gain cheap publicity by exposing the ills of society initially brought up by others.
"The regime in Kuala Lumpur should take quick steps to eliminate such urgent problems that leads the youth to derision rather than banning the rallies organized by the PAS in which Islam, morality and harmony prevails," the local leader added.
The government, however, rejected the criticism saying the problem raised by the penetration of the satanic group in schools was not solely the problem of the government-run Islamic Progress Office of Malaysia (JAKIM).
Dato' Abdul Hamid Zainal Abidin, the minister handling the office, said his officials could not be blamed for the problem since the government was informed of the matter on the onset.
"In this problem, it is not the JAKIM only that is responsible, it should engage the Home Ministry, local agencies and NGOs, as well Parent Teachers Associations, mothers and fathers," the minister said.
Abidin added that the Black Metal culture, based on anti-Islamic teachings such as drinking the blood of sacrificed animals, the use of drugs and free sex among members, were related to punk and hippies, and had to do with external forces not happy with the peace that Malaysians enjoy.
He also criticized advertising in the media that sent negative messages to the youth, but did not say where the advertisements came from, adding that the JAKIM had made it known it was against such adverts in Malaysia.
Abidin said such adverts were shown on local television run by the government, namely the RTM. His criticism, seen as genuine, will have to be taken seriously by the relevant organizations and the media in the country, political observers pointed out.
They also said the minister showed he was deeply concerned and hurt by the developments that led to the Black Metal affair.
In the meantime, police say they are trying to determine the extent of Black Metal's network following the arrest of the leaders, who are in their early 20s.
Exposing the group's modus operandi on Wednesday, State Religious Affairs Committee chairman Fadzil Hanafi said members wore black T-shirts and black boots and usually met at the Central Square shopping complex here during weekends.
He said the group, which had one woman member, was formed some six years ago but only became active lately.
The members, he said, identified themselves through certain hand signals. Several of them wore also talismans and tattooed their bodies, illegal in Malaysia for Muslims.
Fadzil said investigations showed that group was influenced by others from outside the country and that "it [was] a ploy to lure the youths into unhealthy activities spread occult practices here."
He said four other groups - Punk, Skinhead, Hip-hop and Hardcore - were also believed to be roping in youngsters.
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