PETALING JAYA: PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu will take legal action against the Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and the Ministry’s chief secretary, Abdul Rahim Mohamad Radzi for their statements alleging his involvement with the Syiah’s.
“The statement made by Rahim during a special press conference regarding the evidence of my involvement with the Syiah’s is slanderous.
“I have contacted my lawyers to take the next step on this slanderous allegation made by Rahim and the Umno vice-president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi,” said the PAS leader, better known as Mat Sabu, in a press statement from Langkawi.
Mat Sabu’s statement, posted on his Facebook site was in reaction to evidence presented by the Home Ministry’s Chief Secretary, Abdul Rahim Mohamad Radzi yesterday afternoon at the ministry’s headquarters in Putrajaya.
According to Rahim, the PAS leader recited praises to Prophet Muhammad the Syiah way and admires the late Iranian leader Ayatollah Ruhullah Musawi al Khomeini.
In an article published in the PAS monthly, Harakah, in July 2008 Mat Sabu had urged Islamic followers to adopt Imam Khomeini based Islamic leadership principles.
“He had also expressed his admiration at Khomeini’s struggle which had influenced his leadership style during a speech in June 2011,” he added.
Mat Sabu is alleged to have also made a Syiah invocation during a ceremony in Arau, Perlis, eight years ago.
The ministry cited as proof and evidence, claims from blogger Abdul Rahim of Pendang, Kedah, who runs the “Duke of Umno” blog.
The blogger claims that he had witnessed Mat Sabu performing his prayers using a small flat stone, similar to the Syiah practice.
The Home Ministry also used a news portal interview of Jalur Tiga deputy president, Aidit Ghazali as evidence whereby Aidit allegedly referred to Mat Sabu as a Syiah icon.
The PAS leader is also said to have paid a visit to a Syiah mosque in Kampung Aluar, Satun province in south Thailand and has cordial relations with the local Syiah leaders there.
The ‘evidence’ was revealed following Zahid Hamidi’s call for action to be taken against Mat Sabu for allegedly being a Syiah, when delivering his winding up speech at Umno’s 67th general assembly on Saturday.
Mat Sabu added that Rahim’s claim is a “continuation from Ahmad Zahid’s statement”.
“Ahmad Zahid has a track record of making irresponsible statements. He once stated that there was a “shoot first, investigate later” policy to combat crime.
“His statements as an Umno veep and Home Minister creates a bad image of the government and the country,” said Mat Sabu.
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