KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 12 — PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu described today allegations of his Shiah beliefs as “lies”, after Putrajaya furnished purported evidence of his links to the Islamic sect that is considered deviant.
Mohamad, better known as Mat Sabu, however, refused to elaborate and said he would speak to his lawyer first on Sunday before issuing further statements.
“There are many lies,” Mohamad told The Malay Mail Online today.
“I haven't examined thoroughly yet what has come out. I can only give comments after I meet my lawyer later on the 15th,” added the Islamist opposition party leader.
According to media reports, Home Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Abdul Rahim Radzi revealed the “evidence” allegedly proving Mohamad’s Shiah links to the press today.
Among others, Abdul Rahim said Mohamad had once recited the “Selawat” (praises to the Prophet Muhammad) using the Syiah followers’ version, The Star Online reported.
News portal Malaysiakini reported that Mat Sabu had made the Shiah invocation during a ceremony in Arau, Perlis, in 2005.
The evidence, according to Abdul Rahim, was revealed in an interview the ministry had conducted with Kedah Fatwa Council member Abdul Aziz Hanafi.
Other proof of Mohamad's Shiah links included his alleged support of the late Shiite leader Ayatollah Ruhullah Musawi Khomeini, who was the founder of the Islamic revolution in Shiite-majority Iran.
“Mat Sabu had urged Islamic followers to adopt the Islamic leadership principles based on Imam Khomeini in an article published in Harakah in July 2008.
“He had also expressed his admiration at Khomeini’s struggle which had influenced his leadership style during a speech in June 2011,” Abdul Rahim was quoted as saying in The Malaysian Insider.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi recently ordered the religious authorities to take action against Mohamad for his alleged Shiah links.
