Shiah row: Zahid Hamidi says ready to meet Mat Sabu in court

(MM) – Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi appears unruffled for a court face-off with political foe, Mohamad Sabu, whom he has previously claimed to be a clandestine follower of the Shia school of Islam, which Malaysia does not recognise.

Mohamad, popular known as Mat Sabu, had threatened to sue Ahmad Zahid and the Home Ministry, for persisting in linking him to Shiaism, Islam’s second-largest branch practised by an estimated 15 per cent of the 1.5 billion Muslims worldwide but which Malaysia, which follows the Sunni school, regards as deviant.

“I know the truth about this (Shiah) disclosure. Mat Sabu also knows the truth and so do the other PAS leaders. We have proof and I am not the least bit anxious with Mat Sabu’s threat to sue me and the Home Ministry. I am ready to meet Mat Sabu in court,” the vice-president of Umno, the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition’s main party, was reported saying today by Utusan Malaysia.

“Because of that I hope Mat Sabu is not included among the ranks of those connceal themselves even though that is the attitude of Shiah followers. Islam is only members of the Sunnah Wal Jamaah and if there is anyone out there who is lost return to the right track.”

He told the Malay broadsheet that he did not mind being the brickbats by critics, especially those from PAS he said were unhappy at his crackdown on the Shiah movement here to protect Malaysia’s security and religious interests.

He reportedly said that it would be too late if the authorities only acted after Malaysian Muslims were to split into Sunnis and Shiahs and blood were split, such as has happened in Iraq, Pakistan and several other West Asian nations.

“Because of that don’t see the Shiah issue in a political context. Shiah is a question of faith and security. As Muslims we must follow the true teachings which is Sunnah Wal Jamaah without compromise. And so too in the security aspect because we do not want divisions to happen,” Ahmad Zahid was quoted saying.

Putrajaya has in recent months stepped up its campaign against Shiah teachings and followers in Malaysia, but this has been accompanied by suspicions that the action was politically motivated.

Ahmad Zahid had appeared to reinforce the view during the Umno General Assembly last week, when he ordered local religious authorities to act against “the number two in PAS” for alleged ties to the Shiah movement.

While it was widely believed the home minister was referring to PAS deputy president Mohammad Sabu, this was not confirmed until Thursday, when the Home Ministry presented the “proof” that led the minister to arrive at the conclusion.

This ministry listed 10 points it claimed proved Mohamad was a Shi’ite, including the popular PAS speaker’s purported admiration for the late Iranian leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini and an allegation by one Dr Abdul Aziz Hanafi that the Penang-born had once recited a Shiah prayer.

Mohamad has categorised the allegations as “lies” and said he will consult his lawyers over the possible defamation.