How Jakim can help stop Isis

In an article published recently, the head of the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) said that they were finding it "too hard" to stop the influence of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (Isis) militants from spreading online.

Now, I found this both amusing and frustrating at the same time for a couple of reasons.

Primarily, we have a police force that has been tasked to monitor our Facebook accounts to the point of obesity becoming a problem, we have an inspector-general of police (IGP) that polices Twitter, and multiple, independent religious departments in every state that each have a network of informants which allows them to break into apartments and hotel rooms to catch people in close proximity or “khalwat”.

Yet, stopping Isis is "too hard"?

This organisation uses Islam as a pull to recruit further from Malay Muslims and a recent survey shows that 11% of the population supports them.

To give your imagination a bit of a jarring, 11% of the population means there are more people supporting this terror group than there are Malaysian Indians!

And since they are abusing Islam as a recruitment tool, how is it that people such as Jakim can just look away and say it is "too hard"?

They can come up with sermons on the influences of not wearing a headscarf, hugging a K-Pop star and even vaping.

Yet to tell people that those supporting the entire concept of jihad by flinging gay people off tall buildings, and even executing your own mothers as heretics is commendable is somehow beyond Jakim's abilities?

Now while they may not be spewing "sermons of hate every Friday" as a certain lawyer pointed out last year, there is a need for Jakim to step up their game and start asking the backing of religious councils and related agencies in each state to back them up.

For one thing, has a fatwa been issued on joining Isis? Why not?

The National Fatwa Council has issued fatwas from abortion to yoga to vaping and smoking all the way to the Amanah Saham Bumiputera investment concept. Yet, nothing on Isis?

Secondly, what is the purpose of having large networks of informers spying on hotel rooms and apartments, yet can't even notice the military training being conducted at resorts by Isis sympathisers?

I learned that bit reading Utusan Malaysia.

Jakim, what I am asking here is simple, use what you can and what you have at your disposal to stop them from abusing the religion you are tasked to protect to lead Muslims astray.

And honestly, it may not be as gossipy as comparing women's head to food on the table without a cover, but whatever you say bears weight to others.

It is your duty to counter the misinformation being spread by an organisation that has no tolerance for people who do not believe in their cause.

And by far, your network of pulpits and propaganda are quite honestly more effective than anything that can be posted online because it targets the audience Isis cannot get to without you knowing about it.

Similarly, you have multiple agencies playing the role of counsellors and even teachers of religious doctrine with the ability to rally tens of thousands to hear you speak.

You have access to government infrastructure from the public channels of Radio Televisyen Malaysia and even the national news agency Bernama.

You even have access to the Malaysian Commission of Multimedia and Communication, which can assist you in banning access to sites, and act as the middle man between yourself and social networks to trace whosoever is promoting the influence of this terror group.

You also have access to an Asean wide network of religious scholars to reach out to and discuss about how to counter these threats to your own flock.

Truthfully, if there was ever a need to justify a billion ringgit budget, this would be it – securing and countering the spread of an extremist Muslim group that now has regional and local targets threatening not just Malay Muslims but all Malaysians alike.

And guess what, Jakim? The power and authority to counter them from getting stronger and gaining further influence is in your hands.

Of course this isn't as easy as arresting the "Malay Prophet", or "Ayah Pin and the teapot", or even undoing "Al-Arqam". This is the evolution of Jakim's role in Malaysia – to counter terrorist doctrine through religion.

And if nothing else, don't you have a minister leading you who is formerly from the military?

Yes, Jakim has the ability to counter terrorism and even has enough of a communication network to be integrated with other government agencies to counter Isis.

But if they themselves do not see their potential and simply start off by saying it is "too hard", then perhaps we need someone new heading the department who won't give up while facing such a challenge. – January 20, 2016.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.