Those claiming that Shiite teachings are being spread in public universities should come forward with evidence, said the de facto Islamic affairs minister.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Jamil Khir Baharom said this is because the claim is not specified in the media report on the allegation.

He said the government is aware that there are international students who follow the Shiite school of thought, but said they are not allowed to spread the teachings among locals.

NONE “Action will be taken against those who break this rule under provisions of the civil or Syariah courts. We have done this before,” Berita Harian quoted Jamil (left) as saying.

The daily also reported that International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) officials have found evidence that Shiite teachings are spread there by international students, at off-campus gatherings.

IIUM director of international students Hamidon Abdul Hamid said the students are from Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Iran and Iraq.

“Usuallly, they will bring along poor students from Cambodia or Indonesia to their gatherings in order to spread their teachings,” he said adding that Shiite students have been told not to preach.

However, he stressed that no local students are involved.

Separately, Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said it is up to political parties to monitor their own members to ensure they are not followers of the Shiite school of thought.

He said that this follows a statement from a “particular party” that none of its leaders follow Shiite teachings.

He was likely referring to PAS, which has denied the allegation, which was front-paged by a Malay-language daily last week.

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