Kedah Shiite Muslim chief Abdullah Hassan has reportedly lodged a police report claiming that he has received death threats.

According to Utusan Malaysia today, Abdullah claimed that a Facebook user had made the threats on the 'Gerakan Anti Syiah Malaysia' (Malaysian Anti-Shiite Movement) page.

“I am asking the police to investigate this immediately because of concern for our safety and that of our activity centre in Kampung Alor Berala, Pendang,” he was quoted as saying.

On another issue, Abdullah, who reportedly claims to have 3,000 followers in the state, said he accepted the Kedah government’s decision to curb the spread of Shiite teachings because the group wants to avoid a confrontation.

“However, if the move is meant to eliminate Shiite teachings (as opposed to merely curbing its spread to Sunnah Wal Jamaah followers), I would consider it anti-national,” he said.

Key Malay-language newspapers - Berita Harian, Sinar Harian and Utusan Malaysia - have all recently featured stories about the spread of Shiism in Malaysia and efforts to curb it.

Meanwhile on a separate issue, Berita Harian quoted the Besut Umno chief as saying that PAS should not blame Kuala Besut voters for its defeat in the recent by-election there.

“The voters are mostly fishermen or self-employed and want a stable government that priotises the people’s welfare. Their move to give victory to BN is spot-on.

“(PAS spiritual leader) Nik Aziz Nik Mat should not accuse them of neglect or for putting their responsibility to religion aside for giving victory to BN,” he was quoted as saying.

He reportedly added that PAS should ask itself why Terengganu voters shifted support from PAS to BN after four years of PAS rule.

Idris, who is also education minister II, was responding to Nik Aziz’s statement last week saying that poverty in the constituency has led voters to be enticed by offers of projects and money.