The four are imams at mosques in Parit Buntar, Kuala Kangsar and Teluk Intan. They were issued the letters of suspension on Feb 6, which also included suspending the khatibs’ allowances, said the department’s deputy director, Zakaria Abd Razak.

He said complaints were received that the sermons delivered that week included texts prepared by the federal Islamic development department (Jakim) and religious authorities from Kedah and Penang, as well as Perak sermons from 2023.

“Their cases will be discussed by the disciplinary committee, which is likely to meet in early Ramadan,” he told reporters after attending a Chinese New Year celebration at Muhammadiah Mosque (Chinese Mosque), here today.

Last week, a police report was filed against a khatib in Parit Buntar who allegedly read a Friday sermon on Jan 31 that was prepared by the Penang Islamic religious department.

The khatib stated that a computer malfunction prevented him from accessing the Perak department’s prepared sermon, Zakaria said.