Deputy religious affairs minister rejects calls to resign over New Age issue

Deputy religious affairs minister rejects calls to resign over New Age issue

3 hours ago

Mohamad Fadli

Marhamah Rosli says she will only do so if claims she had led people astray are proven in court.

Deputy religious affairs minister Marhamah Rosli recently faced calls to step down over allegations sparked by a recirculated screenshot of a Facebook post she published in September 2019. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA:

Deputy religious affairs minister Marhamah Rosli has rejected calls to resign over content she published in 2019 that had been linked to New Age teachings.

She emphasised she would only do so if claims that she had led people astray were proven in court.

“I will only resign if it is proven that I have led people astray, that people have been led astray. Prove it in court,” she said after an event here today.

Marhamah had recently faced calls from Amanah and PAS to be suspended as deputy religious affairs minister or to step down over allegations sparked by a recirculated screenshot of a Facebook post she published in September 2019.

On Sept 18, she denied claims that she promoted New Age teachings, witchcraft, magic or the use of charms. Her office gave those spreading the allegations 24 hours to retract them and issue a public apology, failing which legal action could be considered.

Marhamah was then called in by the Islamic development department (Jakim) to explain the matter at a meeting with the federal territories mufti, a Jakim panel of experts and other authorities.

Jakim director-general Sirajuddin Suhaimee said the department then issued Marhamah several reprimands, advisories and guidelines, including on the content of programmes that had been conducted and the approaches used.