Politics · Malaysia Bureau
Deputy Religious Minister Clarifies Stance Amid New Age Movement Allegations
A senior religious official has met with authorities to address claims linking her to New Age Movement philosophies, acknowledging the inadvertent use of terminology associated with the doctrine.
LSN Malaysia ·

The deputy religious minister convened discussions with relevant religious authorities on Wednesday to clarify allegations suggesting connections to New Age Movement ideologies. During the meeting, the official acknowledged that certain terminology employed in previous statements had unintentionally aligned with New Age concepts, though she firmly denied any intentional association with the movement.
The clarification comes after mounting scrutiny from religious watchdog groups and community leaders expressing concern about statements made by the minister. The official stated that any language used was not reflective of deliberate advocacy for New Age philosophies, but rather an inadvertent choice of words in communicating broader policy positions.
Religious authorities confirmed that the minister provided a comprehensive explanation addressing the concerns raised. The meeting was described as constructive, with officials satisfied by the clarifications provided regarding her substantive positions on religious matters.
The incident underscores the heightened sensitivities surrounding religious discourse in the region, where terms and concepts are carefully scrutinized by both civil society and state religious bodies. The minister's office indicated that future communications would be carefully vetted to ensure terminology aligns with mainstream religious frameworks and does not inadvertently reference alternative spiritual movements.