Immigration authorities of the Malaysian state of Perak have detained 16 Indonesian Muslims on suspicion of being involved in deviant teaching at two premises in the capital city of Ipoh, some 250 kilometers north of Kuala Lumpur, a report said on Wednesday.
Antara news agency quoted Immigration Director Ishak Mohamed as saying the authorities arrested the Indonesians following a tip-off from members of the public that 20 people regularly gathered at a shop-house in Bandar Baharu Menglembu on certain nights to practice deviant teachings.
Ishak, who headed the raid, said of the 12 Indonesian nationals picked up from the first premise, 10 were permanent residents in Malaysia while the remaining two did not posses any passport of valid travel documents. The enforcement unit then went to another house at a housing estate and arrested four other Indonesians. Two of them have overstayed and the other two had no travel documents.
Copies of the Qur'an, religious pamphlets, a list of conditions for learning silat (a local martial art) and an account book on donations received for the building of the "Fisabilillah House" were found on the premises. No details were given on what the authorities have found as "deviant teachings." Ishak said the Indonesians were handed over to the Perak Islamic religious affairs department for analysis. He said if the department established that they were involved in deviant teachings, their status as permanent residents would be revoked and they would be sent back to Indonesia.