MALAYSIA’S Home Ministry on Thursday detailed its allegations that a senior leader of the opposition party, Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS), is a secret follower of the Shi’ite school of Islam, a controversial accusation in a staunchly Sunni country that bans the preaching of Shi-ism.
The ministry’s secretary-general Abdul Rahim Mohamad Radzi told a news conference that “based on information”, PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu had several times attended classes taught by two Shi’ite teachers in Semanggol, Perak in 2011. And “information” also showed that Mr Mohamad had visited a Shi’ite mosque in Satun in southern Thailand in 2011.
Datuk Seri Abdul Rahim provided a 10-point list. They included writings of Mr Mohamad praising and exhorting Muslims to follow the struggle of Iran’s late spiritual leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini – a Shi’ite – from as far back as 2005.
Mr Abdul Rahim said the ministry had been called to follow up on comments by Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi last Saturday.
But Malaysia media reported The list of 10 things given by the Home Ministry allegedly “proving” that PAS number two Mohamad Sabu is a Shiite adherent is not enough to the accused.
In an immediate reaction, the politician better known as Mat Sabu stood firm on his earlier denial.
“About the allegation that I was impressed with Khomeini, I say thanks. I am an admirer of his leadership because he is a leader who brought Muslims to stand on their own,” he said.
“I am also an admirer of Hassan Nasrullah (Lebanese Shiite leader),” he added.
He added he will make a further statement after meeting with his lawyer this Sunday.
Mat Sabu’s unflappable response was matched by former education deputy minister Saifuddin Abdullah (right).
Apparently ridiculing the ministry’s “evidence”, the now chief executive officer of the government initiative Global Movement of Moderates, said that he, too, is a Khomeini admirer.
“I admire (South African leader Nelson) Mandela, (Cuban communist fighter) Che Guevera, (Indian independence activist) Ghandi and (Indian nun) Mother Theresa.
“Does that make me a Christian, Communist and Hindu? I too admire Khomeini. Am I a Shiite?” he asked on Twitter.
