PUTRAJAYA, Dec 16 — As faith cannot be seen with the naked eye, Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom says the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) should have strong evidence to prosecute followers of the Shiah sect.

“It is not an easy thing to take action against a member of Shiah because it (faith) cannot be seen with the naked eye.

“The religious departments can only prosecute through the confessions of the followers of Shiah, bolstered by witnesses.

“Nevertheless, the department is adamant about taking action against the sect which is diverging the faith of Muslims in Malaysia,” said the minister in the Prime Minister’s Department.

Jamil Khir said this at a press conference after launching a Jakim-organised national seminar on combating the Shiah sect at the Malaysian Islamic Training Institute here today.

He said Jakim — the agency under his jurisdiction — and all state religious departments would work with the Home Ministry and police to quash the sect which was opposed to Sunnah Wal Jamaah which is practised by Muslims in Malaysia.

The minister said that in Selangor alone, the Syariah Court received 251 Shiah-related cases between 2010 and this year.

“Many are not aware of this...maybe, because the issue is not highlighted in the mass media,” he observed.

He lauded a proposal to set up a Syariah police unit, saying he would meet ministry officials and the police soon to discuss the matter. — Bernama