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THE Government has identified 25 deviant religious groups still operating in the country, while the police have made 35 arrests this year in connection with cult activities, officials say
MALAYSIA has officially recorded 25 deviant religious sects as still active as of September 2025, with the Royal Malaysia Police making 35 related arrests this year, the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs), Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar, revealed.
“Up to September 2025, taking into account the deviant sects that have been gazetted and are still active, the total recorded is 25,” he said in a verbal response to a parliamentary question from Sabri Azit (PN-Jerai) yesterday.
The statement comes against a historical backdrop in which the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) has reported that 154 sects were declared deviant nationwide between 1950 and 2023.
In Selangor alone, 45 groups have been identified as spreading teachings that deviate from mainstream Islam, with some continuing to operate covertly in districts such as Gombak, Kuala Selangor, and Sabak Bernam.
In a recent development, the Pahang Islamic Religious Department (JAIP) detained the leader and seven followers of the group ‘Jemaah Nur Ahmad Istana Pelangi’ over suspected involvement in deviant teachings.
The JAIP director, Datuk Ahmad Khirrizal Ab Rahman, said the arrests followed a raid at a former furniture warehouse converted into a residence in Kampung Sungai Putat, Pulau Tawar, Jerantut, at 2.30 pm the previous day. - November 11, 2025
