Zahid moots 'syariah' police force to battle Shiites

Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi will look into creating a special police taskforce to battle the spread of deviant teachings, including Shiism.

He said the proposal, if implemented, would enable the police  to place its officers and men at the Malaysia Islamic Development Department (Jakim) as part of the religious enforcement team.

Speaking to Bernama TVlast night, Ahmad Zahid said that he will discuss with Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Jamil Khir Baharom on the form the joint operations the taskforce will take. 

"There has been a proposal from a non-governmental organisaton for a syariah police squad be formed to combat deviant teachings. This proposal will be discussed in depth.

"We will also seek the consent of the Conference of Rulers so as not to be misconstrued as interfering in the handling of religious issues. The aspect I am stressing on is maintaining security and public order. Prevention is better than cure," he said in the interview.

"There is a suggestion from an NGO to form a syariah police force, to battle false teachings...we will look into this in detail.

"We will also inform the Council of Rulers, so there is no misunderstanding that we are interfering in religious issues."

Meanwhile, according to Bernama, the home minister had further called upon the cooperation of all political parties to curb the spread of the Shiite ideology.

Failing which, he said, could result in a split among Muslims in the country and eventual civil war, akin to what has taken place in the Middle East.

As to possible legal action against him by PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu, whom the former had accused of practicising Shiite, Zahid reportedly said he was open to the possibility.