Malaysian Inspector General: "Shia movement can lead to militant activities"

(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) The Shia movement in the country if not monitored and controlled could lead to militant activities, the Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar said today.Declaring that he was responsible for the country’s safety and maintaining peace and order, Khalid said the police did not want any situation that could disturb the nation’s peace and stability.Yesterday, the Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the government would go hard on Shia  actvities, which were banned in Malaysia.The Home Ministry also issued a five-page statement outlining “evidence” of PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu being involved in Shia activities.Mohamad Sabu has since denied the allegation and was threatening legal action against the government.The Shia community was a movement with militant elements, Khalid told reporters at the Selangor police headquarters.He also disclosed that the police were working closely with the respective state religious departments to monitor followers of the Shia sect.“Some followers who were arrested previously by the police were Shia followers.“We are working with Jakim (the Department of Islamic Development) to monitor their movements closely,” he added.He said the government did “not want what happened in Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan to happen here.”Khalid also said the ministry’s revelations on the Shia sect yesterday were to alert the public.He said the movement if not monitored and controlled could lead to militant activities.“When it comes to the country’s safety, I am responsible for maintaining peace and order. We do not want any situation that can disturb the peace of our country.”The top cop cited Pakistan as an example where tensions and clashes between the Sunnis and Shia  were frequent.“We need to curb this from the start,” he added.Meanwhile, Khalid addressing the media at Bukit Aman this afternoon said the police will work closely with JAKIM to curb Shia teachings in the country.He concurred with the idea mooted by Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to have a police task force to counter Shia teachings.He said the police will have further discussions with an aim of forming the task force as soon as possible./149