PAS considers that it faced a tougher test in the Memali clash of the mid-1980s that the current anti-Shiite sentiments now being flayed by the government, its deputy president Mohamad Sabu said today.

NONE However, said Mohamad, who is widely known as Mat Sabu ( left ), the party members understand that the Shiite issue was being played against the party.

"We have faced bigger tests when the Memali incident took place," Mat Sabu said at a press conference today.

PAS vice-president Salahuddin Ayub, who was also present, said that the party was not being influenced or affected by the anti-Shiite sentiments of late.

"We are not affected... that is cheap politics," Salahuddin said.

NONE The 1985 confrontation between villagers in Memali, near Baling in Kedah, and security forces resulted in the deaths of four police personnel and 14 villagers.

The government had claimed that a local religious teacher, Ibrahim Libya, who was killed in the tragedy, had incited the Memali villagers to take up arms against government forces and that he was linked to PAS.

PAS secretary-general Mustafa Ali and information chief Mahfuz Omar were also present at today's press conference at the PAS media centre on Jalan Raja Laut, Kuala Lumpur.

However, the trio did not answer questions on the government's allegation that Mat Sabu is a Shiite believer. A a separate press conference has been scheduled for 2pm to respond to the allegations made by the Home Ministry.