SELANGOR PAS Youth has called on Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Marhamah Rosli to publicly acknowledge concerns raised by the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM), apologise and resign following a tabayyun session over a programme alleged to contain New Age Movement (NAM) elements.
Dr Abu Musleh, chairman of the Selangor PAS Youth Scholars and Research Committee, said the party welcomed the action taken by JAKIM, particularly its Faith Panel, in investigating the issue and conducting the tabayyun session with Marhamah.
He said JAKIM’s statement on Sunday confirmed that Marhamah had attended the session, during which she was given advice, guidance and a reprimand concerning the content and approach of the programme and its implications for Islamic faith.
“This strengthens the view that the concerns raised by the public previously had a reasonable basis and should be taken seriously by the authorities,” he said in a statement.
Abu Musleh said Marhamah had previously denied any links with NAM and reportedly gave her critics 24 hours to withdraw the allegations and issue a public apology, while threatening legal action.
“This is highly unprofessional, immature and embarrassing because she used her office letterhead to respond to a personal issue.
“Since JAKIM has now confirmed that there were issues concerning the implications for Islamic faith in the programme, it is appropriate for the Deputy Minister to issue a follow-up statement openly acknowledging the matter to the public, in line with JAKIM’s findings,” he said.
He also claimed that many of Marhamah’s students still did not understand or know about practices alleged to be problematic in the teachings concerned.
Abu Musleh said matters involving Islamic faith must be examined seriously and transparently according to recognised scholarly disciplines because they concerned the foundations of Muslims’ beliefs.
He said elements associated with NAM could be introduced through motivational seminars, self-development courses and spiritual programmes that appeared neutral on the surface.
“More worrying is when legitimate Islamic terms are deliberately borrowed to conceal beliefs that contradict them.
“This is why the authorities should carefully scrutinise every term used in spiritual or human-development programmes by some motivational speakers who use terms associated with the New Age Movement,” he said.
He urged state muftis, JAKIM, the Muzakarah Committee of the National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs Malaysia and state religious authorities to continue monitoring and studying the issue transparently and consistently.
“The people are now waiting for Marhamah’s acknowledgement and apology, which should of course be followed by her resignation,” he said. - September 28, 2026
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