Muslims who practise Shiism will be severely dealt with, regardless of status or political ideology, and will not be accepted in the country.

NONE Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Jamil Khir Baharom said it was difficult to detect members of the Islamic sect because the group often concealed its identity and lied to avoid detection.

"We do not know of any political leader linked to Shiism. However, if we talk about who is practising the Syiah belief, regardless of the party he is from, he faces rejection in our country.

"Furthermore, we must have strong proof, we cannot arbitrarily accuse anyone (of being Shiite devotees) because they are allowed to lie, it is the tenet they adhere to," he said after handing over Aidilfitri contributions in Yan today.

He was commenting on a claim in a newspaper that two top leaders of a political party were giving political support to the Syiite movement in the country, which masqueraded as 'Ahli Sunnah Wal Jamaah' to dupe the public and the authorities.

- Bernama