The Perak Islamic Religious Affairs Department (Jaip) and the police arrested 114 individuals in Selama, Perak last night for alleged involvment in the Shiite sect.
 
The swoop was confirmed to Malaysiakini by police sources but stressed that they were only assisting Jaip in the operation.
 
Mohd Kamilzuhairi Abd Aziz, a Shiite leader, was among those arrested during a ceremony to celebrate the birth of prophet Muhammad's grandchild Siti Zainab.
 
"Among those arrested included women and children," Mohd Kamilzuhairi who heads the Malaysian Shiite Association told Malaysiakini when contacted.
 
He said all those arrested were brought to the Selama district police headquarters before subsequently being released.
 
According to the association's secretary Mohd Nasir Sahari, the arrests were made under the Syariah Criminal Procedure (Perak) Enactment 2004.
 
"Everyone have asked to present themselves at Jaip at different dates. For me, it's March 24," he said.
 
Malaysiakini has attempted to contact Jaip but is unable to reach the religious authority.
 
Shiism is an Islamic school of thought but is deemed to be deviant in Malaysia where the Muslims population almost entirely adhere to the Sunni school of thought.