A new law similar to the now repealed Internal Security Act 1960 and Emergency Ordinance should be introduced deal with the spread of Shiite teachings, says a senior Home Ministry officer.

This is because the ISA was used as a tool to deal with such issues during the administration of Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Home Ministry Deputy Secretary (Public Peace and Security Division) Zamihan Md Zain said.

"This is why we suggested that the Security Offences and Safety Measures Act 2012 be used to curb extremist ideologies.

"Personally, I support the use of the ISA as it can be used as a preventive law in dealing with cases like this (Shiite teachings)," Zamihan, who was involved in putting alleged Shiite leaders under the ISA, is quoted by Utusan Malaysia as saying.

Mahathir said last month that there are " better ways " to deal with Shiites, compared with persecuting them.

'End ties with Iran'

The former prime minister said that at a forum on the "Shiite virus", which was jointly-organised by Islamic NGO Muafakat, the Federal Territories mufti office and the Terengganu and Sabah Mufti Departments

At the same event, Federal Territories mufti Wan Zahidi Wan Teh called on the government to cease ties with Shiite-majority country Iran in order to stop the spread of this school of thought in Sunni-majority Malaysia.

Wan Zahidi said Shiites are "more dangerous than Jews and Christians", as the latter groups glorify the prophets Moses and Jesus and their companions, while Shiites malign Prophet Muhammad's companions.

Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia Shiite research unit chief Mohamad Ismail said Shiite teaching was not a Muslim school of thought but a new religion introduced by Jews to destroy Islam.