MELAKA: The Melaka government has banned all types of Syiah advertisements to stop the teachings of the sect from spreading and influencing Muslims in the state.
Chief Minister Datuk Idris Haron said the Melaka Islamic Religious Department would intensify efforts to enlighten Muslims on the dangers of the teachings.
“We have issued a directive to stop an ad on a product that relates to the Syiah teachings. Syiah deviates from Islam and any teachings related to Syiah will be charged under the existing enactment.
“Melaka has gazetted the banning of Syiah in the 90s (July 24, 1997) and we have been eradicating the teachings. But, of late Syiah is gaining ground and we have to deal with it firmly,” he told reporters at Seri Negeri here yesterday.
He was speaking to reporters after receiving the Global Leader in Humanitarian Service award from Lions Clubs International for his role in developing young people talent by Lions Clubs International president Barry J Palmer.
-The Home Ministry yesterday declared that the Syiah Organisation of Malaysia was an illegal organisation.
Meanwhile, Idris said Melaka would host the national Aidilfitri open house at the Hang Tuah Stadium on Aug 30.
He said the event, which was expected to attract about 30,000 people, including tourists, would be launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
“We want revellers to experience the excitement of Aidilfitri as well as the independence day eve by sampling a rich variety of food, cultural performances and fireworks display,” he said.
In KUALA LUMPUR, the Federal Territories (FT) PAS Youth wing has asked the government to act decisively to prevent the spread of the Syiah teachings, especially in public institutions of higher learning and the private sector.
Welcoming the government decision to ban the Malaysian Organisation of Syiah, PAS FT Youth deputy chief, Mohamad Suhaimi Abdul Aziz, said Syiah would not only affect the faith of Muslims, but could also trigger major disputes among Muslims in the country.
The government’s decision is timely due to the growing influence of Syiah, he said, adding that PAS Youth regarded Syiah as a deviant teaching which was more dangerous than Al-Arqam as it could distort Muslims faith from the righteous path and cause confusion among them.
Suhaimi said the spread of the Syiah teachings should be curtailed as promoted contractual or temporary marriages (muta’ah) and trivial understanding of Islam to the extent of taking worship and Islamic practice lightly.
“What is worrying, Muslims, who were deceived into believing the sect are either beginners or ignorant of Islam. There were duped into taking a narrow view of Islam,” he added. — Bernama