According to the portal, which is a sister publication to Malay Mail Online, the Umno supreme council member said the association was formed to strengthen Umno and therefore should “shoot” the Opposition or PAS.

“Form an association, and then take shots at Umno. This is a wretched act,” Shahidan was quoted as saying, adding that Umno veterans should act like “men” and meet the minister on an issue instead of openly criticising the said minister.

The former Perlis Menteri Besar was responding to claims by the association’s secretary, Mustapha Yaakub who alleged that a federal minister was using government facilities to spread the Wahhabi ideology.

Wahhabism has been described an an ultraconservative branch of Sunni Islam.

The ideology is purportedly promoted by Perlis Mufti, Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin whose Islamic religious views is said to run counter to national dogma. Malaysia endorses the Sunni school of thought.

Shahidan, who is also a minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, also challenged Mustapha to name the Federal minister in question.

“Mention the name of the minister and the facilities used to promote the spread Wahhabism. Is Wahhabism outlawed?”