Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi wants to immediately tackle the Shiite issue in the country to avoid the possibility of any security problem caused by followers of the sect.

Stressing that he would not compromise on matters of national security, the minister said he was not bothered if there were groups, especially PAS leaders, who would criticise him on his hard stand against the Syiah.

"In politics, we can have differing opinion but when it concerns our faith, there is only one answer, that is, Ahli Sunnah Wal Jamaah. I will not compromise on security matters because I don't want Muslims in this country to be split into two," he said at a media conference after presenting the National Book Award 2013 at the Putra World Trade Centre yesterday.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also Umno vice-president, urged PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu not to pretend because the Home Ministry had confirmed that he was involved in the Shiite.

He was commenting on the statement by Home Ministry secretary-general Abdul Rahim Mohamad Radzi in Putrajaya yesterday that Mohamad was keen and involved in the Shiism in Malaysia based on 10 information the ministry had received.

Meanwhile in Petaling Jaya, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Jamil Khir Baharom said efforts to fight the Syiah ideology were being carried out consistently.

He said the Shiite must be checked because the National Fatwa Council had made a resolution that it was against the law for Muslims in this country to follow the Syiah teachings.

- Bernama