(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) The anti-Shiite rhetoric that dominated the Umno general assembly has culminated in the home minister accusing a top PAS leader of being a Shiite member.
Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is also Umno vice-president, openly levelled the accusation against PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu in his winding up speech at the general assembly today.
"We are curious as to how PAS chose a Shiite leader as its number two in the party. Do not try to hide.
"The Home Ministry empowers (Minister in the Prime Minister's Department in charge of Islamic Affairs) Jamil Khir Baharom to take action against the leader," he pronounced.
Shiite is an Islamic school of thought deemed deviant in Malaysia, where almost the entire Muslim population adhere to the Sunni teachings.
"We know who is the Shiite leader in PAS," he declared as the crowd cheered wildly.
Ahmad Zahid called on PAS to cross party lines and cooperate with the government to curb Shiite teachings.
"It would be good if PAS has the courage and political commitment to reject the prominent Shiite leader from becoming a party leader," he said.
Did not name names
For Umno, Ahmad Zahid said Shiite members were not welcomed in the party and even proposed an amendment to the party's constitution that its Muslim members must be Sunni.
This was on top of similar amendments first mooted by Umno deputy-president Muhyiddin Yassin to be made to the federal constitution.
Ahmad Zahid pledged to come down hard on Muslims adhering to the Shiite school of thought.
"If any Shiite leaders are followers (and) conduct Shiite activities on premises... the home minister will use his power to seize the premises," he said.
He further announced the creation of a commission to curb deviant teachings.
Even though Ahmad Zahid did not name names, his singling out of PAS’ second most senior-ranking member made it obvious and earned him loud cheers from the floor.
Mat Sabu denies Shia links
PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu has denied Putrajaya’s accusation that he has links to the banned Shia movement, insisting instead that he follows the accepted Sunni school of jurisprudence.
The PAS leader reportedly confirmed this to Astro Awani when contacted yesterday.
“I am a member of the Sunnah Wal Jamaah, a Muslim that follows the teachings of Sunnah Wal Jamaah members,” he briefly told Astro Awani in his journey to the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).
The PAS leader was responding to the accusation by Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi who had yesterday issued an order on local religious authorities to take action against the former for his alleged links to the Shiites.
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Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is also Umno vice-president, openly levelled the accusation against PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu in his winding up speech at the general assembly today.
"We are curious as to how PAS chose a Shiite leader as its number two in the party. Do not try to hide.
"The Home Ministry empowers (Minister in the Prime Minister's Department in charge of Islamic Affairs) Jamil Khir Baharom to take action against the leader," he pronounced.
Shiite is an Islamic school of thought deemed deviant in Malaysia, where almost the entire Muslim population adhere to the Sunni teachings.
"We know who is the Shiite leader in PAS," he declared as the crowd cheered wildly.
Ahmad Zahid called on PAS to cross party lines and cooperate with the government to curb Shiite teachings.
"It would be good if PAS has the courage and political commitment to reject the prominent Shiite leader from becoming a party leader," he said.
Did not name names
For Umno, Ahmad Zahid said Shiite members were not welcomed in the party and even proposed an amendment to the party's constitution that its Muslim members must be Sunni.
This was on top of similar amendments first mooted by Umno deputy-president Muhyiddin Yassin to be made to the federal constitution.
Ahmad Zahid pledged to come down hard on Muslims adhering to the Shiite school of thought.
"If any Shiite leaders are followers (and) conduct Shiite activities on premises... the home minister will use his power to seize the premises," he said.
He further announced the creation of a commission to curb deviant teachings.
Even though Ahmad Zahid did not name names, his singling out of PAS’ second most senior-ranking member made it obvious and earned him loud cheers from the floor.
PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu has denied Putrajaya’s accusation that he has links to the banned Shia movement, insisting instead that he follows the accepted Sunni school of jurisprudence.
The PAS leader reportedly confirmed this to Astro Awani when contacted yesterday.
“I am a member of the Sunnah Wal Jamaah, a Muslim that follows the teachings of Sunnah Wal Jamaah members,” he briefly told Astro Awani in his journey to the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).
The PAS leader was responding to the accusation by Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi who had yesterday issued an order on local religious authorities to take action against the former for his alleged links to the Shiites.
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