Brunei Tightens Security As Kuala Lumpur Banishes Arqam Head To Labuan
By Suriani Garip

Bandar Seri Begawan - Brunei authorities who have kept close tabs on deviationist cults will undoubtedly be more vigilant as neighbouring countries continue to crackdown on militant elements, observers noted.

Both Singapore and Malaysia have in recent days made a series of arrests on militants with alleged links to terrorist organisations.

Yesterday in a new development, Malaysia decided to banish the former leader of an outlawed Muslim sect to Labuan, which is one of the closest Malaysian island to Brunei.

It was learnt that the move was meant to separate Asaari Muhammad from people who favour him to revive the Al-Arqam movement which was banned in 1994 for spreading unorthodox religious teachings.

In a report by Utusan Malaysia, Asaari was ordered by Malaysian Home Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to be confined at Labuan commencing February 5th.

Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Ramli Yusuff confirmed the transfer of Asaari Muhammad from Rawang, Selangor to Labuan following his detention under the restricted residence ordinance.

It was reported that the Sabah police are monitoring the activities of former members of the Al-Arqam to make sure that there will not be any attempt in the state to revive the banned group.

"We are monitoring the situation to see if there are any attempts to revive the movement in another form," the Sabah police chief said."

He also disclosed that the former members of the Al-Arqam movement's activities were limited to conducting business but nevertheless the police are watching their activities closely.

Al-Arqam thrived in predominant rural areas of Malaysia prior to the detention of Asaari and his other 15 top members nine years ago.

All of them were released after they appeared on national television and claimed to have renounced the sect's teachings. However, Asaari was placed under restricted residence status which barred him from leaving Rawang before he was transferred to Labuan last week, AP reports said.

In addition to their detention, the movement was paralysed because of disbanding communes run by the sects. These sects reportedly owned supermarkets, factories and other businesses and claimed to have 100,000 members during its glory days. 

It was found out that the group had been thought out of existence until last October when government officials warned that former Al-Arqam members had been holding meetings  discreetly and was plotting a comeback. 

Islam is the official religion in Brunei following the standing of Ahli Sunnah Wal-Jamaah as stated in the Brunei constitution with His Majesty Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, the Sultan of Brunei as the head of the Islamic faith. (Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin) 

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