BAGAN SERAI: The government is working closely with the Saudi Arabian authorities to locate the whereabouts of Tarekat al-Naqsyabandiah al-Khalidiyyah leader Habib Shah Firdaus Habih Ahmad.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Idris Ahmad said the same action is also taken against Habib Shah Firdaus' hundreds of followers, believed to be still in the country.
"I have contacted the consulate there to track them down and arrest them. We hope that these people will be caught and have them deported back here.
"At the same time, Tabung Haji (TH) is also assisting us. They have informed us that they are in the process of taking further action. So, we ask them (TH) to cooperate with the embassy there," he said.
Idris said this at a press conference after opening the 39th Pas Youth Muktamar at Bukit Merah Laketown Resort here today.
Idris said the group was considered to have deviated from Islam, including believing that there would be an appearance of Imam Mahdi on the last day of Arafah.
"It is ridiculous, and some of them had even sold their property. We hope that people who want to follow such teaching must also know their teachers.
"It is hoped that there is an awareness among the community to understand things like this so that it is not easy to be deceived," he said.
It was reported that Habib Shah Firdaus is believed to have been in Saudi Arabia since last March with hundreds of his followers to perform Umrah, and at the same time to await the appearance of Imam Mahdi.
Negri Sembilan mufti Datuk Mohd Yusof Ahmad said it was believed that half of the 300 followers of Habib Shah Firdaus who have been in Saudi Arabia since last March have returned to Malaysia after finding out that nothing happened on the day of Arafah.
However, Habib Shah Firdaus and some followers did not give up and were still living there, waiting for the 10th of Muharram (Monday) to look forward to the same event.