Kelantan mufti Shukri Mohamad said museums are meant to showcase items of value or significance, as opposed to highlighting detrimental teachings such as those practised by GISBH, which had been declared deviant in six states.
“If we look at the concept of a museum, it is a place to display items of historical value that we can be proud of. What is there to be proud of in deviant teachings,” he told FMT.
“There’s no need to highlight it. What’s important is to guide them (GISBH followers) back to the right path, not to exhibit it.
“What we need now are rehabilitation centres to educate those who have gone astray because of deviant teachings, not museums to showcase it.”
Pahang mufti Asmadi Naim said while the government was responsible for raising awareness about the spread of deviant teachings, there was no need to establish a museum dedicated to it.
Instead, he said, state authorities should use public platforms to highlight such matters.
“Museums are usually for preserving things, but deviant teachings are not supposed to be preserved,” he said.
“We acknowledge the need to raise awareness about such teachings, but it should not be done by creating a museum.”
The muftis were commenting on a suggestion by Langkawi MP Suhaimi Abdullah for the government to take over a hotel owned by GISBH in Langkawi and turn it into a museum on deviant teachings.
The Bersatu MP said such a museum could serve as a reference centre for the public to learn about deviant teachings from across the world.
Six states – Perlis, Selangor, Pahang, Melaka, Sabah and Penang – have declared GISBH’s teachings and practices as deviant and contrary to Islam.
Former GISBH members had alleged that they were brainwashed to believe the group’s leaders were appointed by Prophet Muhammad, Imam Mahadi and guides from the spiritual realm.
GISBH came under the spotlight after police rescued 402 children and teenagers suspected of being victims of labour and sexual exploitation in raids on 20 welfare homes.
The operation also uncovered cases of neglect and abuse, leading to the detention of 105 women and 65 men.