PAS’ Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man has called for Islamic studies to be made a mandatory passing subject in school for Muslims in order to strengthen the Sunni faith.
The PAS vice-president stressed that bolstering the faith of Sunni Muslims would not merely halt the spread of the outlawed Shiah ideology in the country, but also prevent the growth of “deviant” sects and teachings like the Tuhan Harun sect.
“When people do not understand the truth, they will accept false teachings,” Tuan Ibrahim was reported as saying today by Malay-language daily Sinar Harian.
“Strengthening the faith of Sunnah members will not just stop the spread of Shiah teachings, but also other deviant teachings like Harun teachings and the like,” added the Islamist opposition party leader.
PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu, popularly known as Mat Sabu, said last Tuesday that he will sue Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi for defamation over the Home Minister’s claims linking him to the Shiah movement, an Islamic sect deemed deviant by the government.
Last Saturday, Zahid appeared unfazed by Mat Sabu’s threat to sue, insisting that the Home Ministry had evidence to link the latter to the Shiah movement, the Islamic school of jurisprudence deemed as deviant in Malaysia despite being practised by an estimated 15 per cent of 1.5 billion Muslims worldwide.
Zahid and the ministry have cited Mat Sabu’s purported admiration for the late Iran revolutionary Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, as one of the 10 bundles of evidence that showed his Shiaism.
At the recent Umno general assembly, Zahid, who is also an Umno vice-president, ordered the religious authorities to take action against Mat Sabu for his alleged Shiah links.
Political analysts have said that Umno’s vilification of the Shiah denomination appears to be a political move against the Malay nationalist party’s rival in the Pakatan Rakyat opposition pact, rather than a faith-driven act.-themalaymailonline
