Some foreign students are spreading Shiite teachings in four public universities and are linked to plots to overthrow the federal government, according to Berita Harian .

The frontpage report quotes Universiti Utara Malaysia vice-chancellor Prof Mohamed Mustafa Ishak and former Universiti Teknologi Mara vice-chancellor Ibrahim Abu Shah claiming as such, but does not offer any evidence.

Ibrahim claimed that there are local politicians using Shiism as a platform to convince students to join in the overthrow.

Yesterday, the daily had also claimed that there are senior PAS leaders who are influenced by Shiite teachings, due to their interest in revolutionary movements in the Middle-East, in particular Iran.

Renewed interest in curbing the spread of Shiite teachings began earlier this month following the Kedah's decision to legislate laws banning the doctrine in the state.

Prime Minister's Department Jamil Khir Baharom, who the minister in charge of Islamic affairs, said that this does not constitute as a human rights violation.

Meanwhile, former Selangor PAS chief Hasan Ali also repeated the claims that there was an infiltration of Shiite adherents in PAS' leadership.

He claimed that such individuals do not perform Friday prayers and were associates of Bashar al-Asad, a Shiite and ruler of Sunni Muslim-majority Syria.

He claimed that PAS did not have the "teeth and courage" to take action against such individuals.