The former inspector-general of police said he had written on a copy of a letter sent by Shia members to the Prime Minister’s Department informing it that they would be holding a gathering to commemorate the birthday of the Prophet’s daughter, Zainab, in Perak.

His instructions were handwritten and based on an edict by the National Fatwa Council forbidding Shia practice among Muslims in the country.

“As I understand it, when the fatwa is gazetted at state level, it becomes law. I am of the view that the council’s edict has legal implications.

“To a certain extent, yes, the raid may have occurred as a result of the instructions,” he said when testifying at the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) inquiry into the disappearance of Perlis activist Amri Che Mat.

The raid was carried out in Ijok, Perak, in 2014, jointly by police and the Perak Islamic religious department. A total of 114 Shia followers were detained for a night.

However, Khalid disagreed with a suggestion by Amri’s lawyer Larissa Anne Louis that the raid in Perak was initiated by the police and not the Perak Islamic religious department.

“No, the raid was not led by the police and aided by the religious department. The raid was not done under my direction.

“Yes, it was an integrated operation, but it was led by the state Islamic religious department,” he said.

Khalid also said he was unsure if there were additional reports or complaints, aside from his minutes.

On what was the police’s view on Shia teachings, Khalid said the force followed the policies of the government.

He pointed out that the fatwa council had already issued a fatwa that teachings other than Sunni teachings were forbidden.

On whether Shia followers are considered a threat, Khalid said there was a possibility that they could become a threat to national security, which would then require the police to investigate.

“If they pose a threat, then we need to take much sterner action. It is a judgment call. Depending on the severity of the threat (we will then take action).

“(In the Perak case) there were no elements of violence, which is why the state Islamic religious department led the raid. (The offence committed) was in violation of a fatwa. It was not violence,” he said.

Khalid added that it was not the police’s policy to regard a Shia follower as a threat.

Amri, who co-founded Perlis Hope, has been missing since Nov 24, 2016. His wife previously said that five vehicles had blocked his car before he was whisked away, some 500m from their home in Bukit Chabang, Perlis.