“Sodomy is now an epidemic. Young boys are traumatised and abused all over the country. Yet, our religious affairs minister is only interested in halal certificates,” Zaid said in a post on X.

He was referring to religious affairs minister Na’im Mokhtar’s recent announcement that the Islamic development department (Jakim) was considering making halal certification mandatory for certain restaurants and food operators.

Listing seven sodomy cases that have occurred between 2017 and 2024 in Perlis, Perak, Kelantan, Kuantan, Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru, and Lawas, Sarawak, Zaid questioned whether this was just the “tip of the iceberg”.

“I am sure we only know a small part of the horror story,” he said.

He proposed three immediate steps the ministry should take to curb the menace.

“First, all religious and tahfiz schools must station a few officers from Jakim, similar to how religious departments and moral police monitor khalwat (close proximity) cases,” he said.

Zaid also called for Jakim to set aside some of its RM1.5 billion government allocation “to curb the sodomy epidemic by telling Muslims that Islam views the offence seriously”.

Shariah courts must also step up the prosecution of cases involving the sodomy of young boys. “How many cases have they started to prosecute? None,” he said.

“Our leaders who are entrusted to protect the honour and dignity of Islam must act now before it’s too late.

“They must do more to get the administrators of Islamic affairs, both at the state and federal levels, to devise a transparent control mechanism to protect our boys.”

Zaid’s post comes in the wake of a raid on 20 welfare homes in Selangor and Negeri Sembilan, where children are said to have been sodomised or taught to sexually assault others.

He urged parents to be selective about the tahfiz school they plan to send their children to.

“Not all men who teach religion are good,” he said. “Protect our young. (Don’t) just think about getting into heaven.”