Putrajaya mulling ‘syariah cops’ for Shiah crackdown, says minister
(MM) – The Home Ministry is weighing proposals to form a special police unit to contain the spread of the banned Shiah school of Islam here, said Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Among the proposals will be to embed police officers within the Malaysian Islamic Advancement Affairs Department (Jakim) as part of an “enforcement team”, which could allow such squads vastly broadened powers to arrests those deemed in breach of Islamic laws.
“There was a proposal by a NGO to set up a syariah police, to curb deviant teachings. This will be discussed in details,” Ahmad Zahid said in an interview with state news agency Bernama TV last night.
“We will also ask for approval from the Malay Rulers Council so that the idea will not be seen as our interference in the handling of religious matters. The aspects that I am emphasising on is security and public safety. To prevent is better than curing”.
Ahmad Zahid added that the proposal will be discussed with Islamic Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom soon.
The home minister was also reported to have said that the police already have a religious department, but would require Cabinet approval for a formal co-operation with Jakim.
Yesterday, Ahmad Zahid explained that the clampdown against the Shiah sect was meant to prevent the ideological turmoil in the Middle East from spreading to Malaysia.
He pointed to how Iraq has been torn apart by religious divisions, noting that this was because it is home to followers of two major Islamic sects – the Sunnis and the Shiahs.
“We don’t want what is happening in Iraq to happen in Malaysia.
“We can have different opinions in politics, but when it comes to faith, we cannot have different opinions,” he told reporters after launching the 1 Malaysia Book Expo and National Book Award here at the Putra World Trade Centre.
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.
Zahid had appeared to reinforce the view during the Umno General Assembly last week, when he ordered Jamil Khir to act against “the number two in PAS” for alleged ties to the Shiah movement.
While it was widely believed Zahid was referring to PAS deputy president Mohammad Sabu, this was not confirmed until yesterday, when the Home Ministry presented the “proof” that led the minister to arrive at the conclusion.
This ministry listed 10 items such as Mohammad Sabu’s admiration for late Iranian leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini and an allegation by one Dr Abdul Aziz Hanafi that the PAS man had once recited a Shiah prayer.
The PAS deputy president popularly known as Mat Sabu yesterday categorised the allegations as “lies” and said he will consult his lawyers over the possible defamation.
