(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) The Home Ministry today revealed that PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu, more popularly known as Mat Sabu, was involved in Shia activities which was banned in Malaysia.
Ministry secretary-general Abdul Rahim Mohamad Radzi said the PAS number two leader was the one referred to by Home Minister Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, at the recent Umno general assembly, of following the banned teachings.
“The statement by the minister regarding a top PAS leader being involved with Shia teachings is Mat Sabu,” he told reporters today.
He claimed that Mat Sabu was involved in Shia activities connected to the struggle of Iranian revolutionist Ayatollah Ruhullah Musawi al Khomeini.
“Mat Sabu had urged Islamic followers to adopt the Islamic leadership principles based on Imam Khomeini in an article published in Harakah in July 2008.
“He had also expressed his admiration at Khomeini’s struggle which had influenced his leadership style during a speech in June 2011,” he added.
He also claimed Mat Sabu made a Shiite invocation during a ceramah in Arau, Perlis, in 2005.
Although it was called a press conference to announce evidence of Mat Sabu’s involment in Shiism, newsmen were not allowed to ask questions. Abdul Rahim just read a prepared five page statement.
He also claimed that Mat Sabu’s invocation evidence came from an interview conducted by the Home Ministry with Kedah Fatwa Council member Abdul Aziz Hanafi.
“All these facts clearly prove that he (Mat Sabu) has connections with the faith and activities of Shiites,” Rahim said.
He also quoted the writer of a blog called ‘dukeofumno’ with a certain Abdul Rahim from Pendang, Kedah who had claimed to have personally witnessed Mat Sabu performing his prayers using a small flat stone, a practice synonymous with Shiites.
He also said in an interview by the Antara Pos portal, Jati deputy president Aidit Ghazali, claimed Mat Sabu to be a ‘Shiite icon’.
He alleged that statements obtained from Mat Sabu’s friends who were in the same political struggle also showed that he had connections with Shiism.
He claimed Mat Sabu had ‘urged’ Malaysian Muslims to follow the example of the thinking and leadership qualities of Khomeini, which is clearly based on Shiism.
However, Abdul Rahim did not specify any action to be taken against Mat Sabu, merely saying that the ministry will cooperate with the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) and the police to monitor the situation and stop the spread of Shiism in the country.
In an immediate reaction Mat Sabu said many lies were being spread about him and that he would be meeting his lawyers to decide on the next course of action.
He was also firm in denying that he was a Shiite.
“I admire a lot of people. I admire Imam Khomeni as a leader of Muslims. I am also admirer of Hassan Nasrullah (the Lebanese Shiite leader),” said.
Kedah Shia leader, too, doesn’t believe Mat Sabu is Shia
Even as the authorities continue its attacks on Mohamad Sabu, a Shia leader from Kedah has disputed the Home Ministry's claim that the PAS deputy president is a follower of the Muslim denomination.
Abdullah Hassan said based on his observation of Mohamad, or Mat Sabu, over the past five years, he did not think the veteran PAS leader is a Shia Muslim.
"I don't know whether he (Mat Sabu) is a Shia believer or not. In my observations, I don't see him as one," Abdullah told Malay daily Sinar Harian.
He aslo said he had no knowledge of Mat Sabu's involvement in Shia activities as claimed by Putrajaya.
Abdullah, however, stressed that although Mat Sabu admired the leadership of the late Iranian revolutionary leader Ayatollah Khomeini, it did not mean he was a Shia.
"The similarity between Mat Sabu and me is that we are both admirers of Imam Khomeini but from a different perspective.
"Shia agrees with Khomeini when it came to the denomination while Mat Sabu might be looking at his leadership skills which brought about the Iranian revolution. But that is his personal right to admire any leader," he added.
Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi recently accused Mat Sabu of being a Shia, and questioned PAS members who retained him in as the Islamic party's number two.
To back Zahid's claim, Home Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Abdul Rahim Mohamad Radzi organised a press conference, and revealed 10 "evidences" linking the PAS leader to Shia activities, which included an article by Mat Sabu in PAS organ Harakah, in which he expressed admiration for Khomeini.
Mat Sabu responded by saying that while he admired Khomeini's leadership, it did not mean he was a Shia follower.
He has threatened to sue Ahmad Zahid and the ministry over the claims. - December 14, 2013.
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Ministry secretary-general Abdul Rahim Mohamad Radzi said the PAS number two leader was the one referred to by Home Minister Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, at the recent Umno general assembly, of following the banned teachings.
“The statement by the minister regarding a top PAS leader being involved with Shia teachings is Mat Sabu,” he told reporters today.
He claimed that Mat Sabu was involved in Shia activities connected to the struggle of Iranian revolutionist Ayatollah Ruhullah Musawi al Khomeini.
“Mat Sabu had urged Islamic followers to adopt the Islamic leadership principles based on Imam Khomeini in an article published in Harakah in July 2008.
“He had also expressed his admiration at Khomeini’s struggle which had influenced his leadership style during a speech in June 2011,” he added.
He also claimed Mat Sabu made a Shiite invocation during a ceramah in Arau, Perlis, in 2005.
Although it was called a press conference to announce evidence of Mat Sabu’s involment in Shiism, newsmen were not allowed to ask questions. Abdul Rahim just read a prepared five page statement.
He also claimed that Mat Sabu’s invocation evidence came from an interview conducted by the Home Ministry with Kedah Fatwa Council member Abdul Aziz Hanafi.
“All these facts clearly prove that he (Mat Sabu) has connections with the faith and activities of Shiites,” Rahim said.
He also quoted the writer of a blog called ‘dukeofumno’ with a certain Abdul Rahim from Pendang, Kedah who had claimed to have personally witnessed Mat Sabu performing his prayers using a small flat stone, a practice synonymous with Shiites.
He also said in an interview by the Antara Pos portal, Jati deputy president Aidit Ghazali, claimed Mat Sabu to be a ‘Shiite icon’.
He alleged that statements obtained from Mat Sabu’s friends who were in the same political struggle also showed that he had connections with Shiism.
He claimed Mat Sabu had ‘urged’ Malaysian Muslims to follow the example of the thinking and leadership qualities of Khomeini, which is clearly based on Shiism.
However, Abdul Rahim did not specify any action to be taken against Mat Sabu, merely saying that the ministry will cooperate with the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) and the police to monitor the situation and stop the spread of Shiism in the country.
In an immediate reaction Mat Sabu said many lies were being spread about him and that he would be meeting his lawyers to decide on the next course of action.
He was also firm in denying that he was a Shiite.
“I admire a lot of people. I admire Imam Khomeni as a leader of Muslims. I am also admirer of Hassan Nasrullah (the Lebanese Shiite leader),” said.
Kedah Shia leader, too, doesn’t believe Mat Sabu is Shia
Even as the authorities continue its attacks on Mohamad Sabu, a Shia leader from Kedah has disputed the Home Ministry's claim that the PAS deputy president is a follower of the Muslim denomination.
Abdullah Hassan said based on his observation of Mohamad, or Mat Sabu, over the past five years, he did not think the veteran PAS leader is a Shia Muslim.
"I don't know whether he (Mat Sabu) is a Shia believer or not. In my observations, I don't see him as one," Abdullah told Malay daily Sinar Harian.
He aslo said he had no knowledge of Mat Sabu's involvement in Shia activities as claimed by Putrajaya.
Abdullah, however, stressed that although Mat Sabu admired the leadership of the late Iranian revolutionary leader Ayatollah Khomeini, it did not mean he was a Shia.
"The similarity between Mat Sabu and me is that we are both admirers of Imam Khomeini but from a different perspective.
"Shia agrees with Khomeini when it came to the denomination while Mat Sabu might be looking at his leadership skills which brought about the Iranian revolution. But that is his personal right to admire any leader," he added.
Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi recently accused Mat Sabu of being a Shia, and questioned PAS members who retained him in as the Islamic party's number two.
To back Zahid's claim, Home Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Abdul Rahim Mohamad Radzi organised a press conference, and revealed 10 "evidences" linking the PAS leader to Shia activities, which included an article by Mat Sabu in PAS organ Harakah, in which he expressed admiration for Khomeini.
Mat Sabu responded by saying that while he admired Khomeini's leadership, it did not mean he was a Shia follower.
He has threatened to sue Ahmad Zahid and the ministry over the claims. - December 14, 2013.
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