Komuniti Muslim Universal Malaysia (KMU) said it was ironic that the Federal Territories Islamic Department (Jawi), which was funded to, among others, combat terrorism, were acting like terrorists themselves.

The article said Jawi had officers “imitate the characters and modus operandi of terrorists, believing in the same ideology and system except that they don’t drive tanks to raids.”

The hard-hitting article was uploaded on KMU’s website last night.

The writer also questioned the rationale of charging the organiser of the dinner for “encouraging vice”, as in this case, the event did not cause harm to others, and had no “passive or active intention to force people to embrace transgenderism.”

“I will not be surprised that what they (Jawi) did has encouraged other extremist Muslims to give death threats and dreadful comments, for instance on social media, in bullying the innocents. Very vicious indeed!”

The writer added that “arbitrary persecution and prosecution to ‘protect’ the religion,” were in fact more the case of the authorities protecting their own position and agenda with such broad power.

Malay Muslims, regardless of their sexual orientation, or whether they wore a hijab or went for Friday prayers, could still be loyal to the country, it said.

“The government should be proud of Malaysians who fight for freedom to emancipate Malaysia from religious radicalisation. It shows the success of our education system and that they are still people concerned about contributing to the country.

“What the government should realise is that terrorism is born from radicalism that promotes hate and violence, which most of the terrorist imitators and sympathisers are using to hide behind the veil of religion.”