‘No need to ban Shia teachings in state’

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NO ISSUE: Daud fielding questions from reporters.

KUCHING: Sarawak will not issue a fatwa (edict) banning Shia teachings as the spread of the Muslim sect is not an issue in the state.

Assistant Minister of Islamic Affairs Datuk Daud Abdul Rahman yesterday said the majority of Muslims in the state did not understand nor were aware of the existence of Shia teachings.

“There are no issues with Shia in the state. In fact most Muslims here do not know what Shia is all about. Furthermore, the people here are living in harmony and Muslims are very contented. There is no necessity for the state to gazette a fatwa that bans the teaching of Shia,” Daud who is also Infrastructure Development Assistant Minister told reporters when met at his Raya open house at Jalan Matang here yesterday.

Daud was receiving a visit from Head of State Tun Datuk Patinggi Abang Muhammad Salahuddin.

The federal government has banned Shia teachings in the country following a ruling made by the National Fatwa Council in 1996.

Last month, the Home Ministry declared the Shia organisation of Malaysia unlawful. Its secretary-general Datuk Seri Abdul Rahim Mohamad Radzi said the decision was made by the Home Minister based on Section 5 of the Societies Act 1966.

He added that Shia followers had applied to register the organisation with the Malaysian Registration Department in Melaka on June 18, 2011, but was rejected on Aug 4. Their appeal had also been rejected on Oct 31.

The states of Kedah and Pahang recently announced that they will gazette a fatwa banning the teachings of Shia to prevent it from confusing Muslims.