KUALA LUMPUR: The activities of a cult whose members allegedly practise satanic rituals are more social than criminal in nature, said Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Norian Mai.
"We alerted the district security committee and religious department some two months ago after we got wind of the group's activities in Kedah.
"Since then, we kept a close watch on their movement, even before the issue was highlighted," he said, adding that police believed the group has since made their presence felt in other states.
Norian was speaking to reporters after attending the convocation ceremony of 119 students from the Unikop College at a hotel here yesterday.
Speaking to reporters at the launch of the Proton Juara, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad agreed that the problem of students who indulge in the occult through "black metal" music was a social problem.
He said the Government had provided religious education to students, although such lessons were not taught when the country was still under British colonial rule.