It is business as usual for the Muslim cooperative Rufaqa despite the authorities threatening to raid its premises for displaying photos of Ashaari Muhammad, the former leader of the outlawed Al-Arqam sect.

The Rufaqa community is facing increasing pressure after it was alleged that four of its leaders, identified as sheikhs, were attempting to revive the banned sect.

However, Rufaqa has denied any links with the four.

Media reports over the past two weeks claimed that the group was allegedly actively recruiting new members and using an area in Negeri Sembilan as a base to initiate them.

Ashaari is the executive chairperson of the cooperative, which has numerous business interests here and abroad.

A check by malaysiakini yesterday at the Rufaqa commune in Bandar Country Homes near Rawang revealed that business there is operating as usual despite the negative publicity.

Due to the overwhelming attention, the community's members have become rather wary of talking to the media.

The word 'Rufaqa' was visible on the signboards of a bakery, motel, automobile workshop, clinic, grocery stores, a kindergarten and various eateries in the area. The signboards also featured the words ' tenang dan menyakinkan ' (calm and inspiring).

Portraits of Ashaari, believed to be taken during the 1980s when he led the Al-Arqam sect, continued to adorn the walls at most of the premises alongside verses exalting the good Muslim life.

The operators, who have been running their respective outlets for more than a decade, are not perturbed by the threats from the authorities.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a Rufaqa boutique operator said most of them were unaware that displaying portraits of Ashaari was against the law.

"We are only trying to earn a living," she said.

No businesses shut down

Contacted later, Rufaqa publishing deputy director Laila Ahmad, who is also Ashaari's daughter-in-law, also said that business was operating as usual.

"I want to stress that we are operating like normal and there are no businesses that have been shut down," she added

Rufaqa officials said they have not received any notice from the Selangor Islamic Affairs Department (Jais) requesting for Ashaari's portraits to be removed.

Last week, Jais had threatened to raid Rufaqa business premises if the portraits were not taken down. Previously, the department had rounded up 100 people, including the four sheikhs, during a raid at a Rufaqa office in Shah Alam.

Selangor religious affairs exco Abdul Rahman Palil said local authorities have identified four Rufaqa communes in Bandar Country Homes, Kajang, Serdang and Shah Alam where Ashaari portraits were displayed.

According to him, the display of the portraits indicated a possible resurgence of Al-Arqam and that Rufaqa was being used as a front.

Rufaqa also has a presence in Sabah and Sarawak as well as Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia and Jordan.

To date, Kedah, Negeri Sembilan and Melaka have banned Rufaqa and other states are expected to follow suit.

Ashaari was detained under the Internal Security Act in 1994 and was held for two years. By then Al-Arqam had attracted some 100,000 followers, including a large number of government officials.

He is currently believed to be residing in Nilai, Negeri Sembilan.