Dr Asri says accusations in purported Johor ban proposal slanderous

Perlis Mufti Datuk Dr Asri Zainul Abidin has threatened to sue those responsible over a purported proposal calling for several religious leaders to be banned from preaching in Johor.

The document, which is being circulated on social media, is said to have been submitted by the Johor religious department to the Johor Palace.

It proposes that the state ban 16 religious preachers who are deemed to have caused confusion through their deviant teachings.

Besides Dr Asri, the document names Umno Youth exco Fathul Bari Mat Jahya and several other preachers, such as Rasul Dahari, Fadhlan Othman and Dr Abu Anas Madani.

The proposal said that Dr Asri should be banned from preaching in the state for, among others, maligning the mufti’s institution and belittling the Shafie school of thought.

When contacted, Dr Asri described the accusations levelled against him as "slander" and challenged those responsible to prove the allegations.

"I think they should also be sued. In fact, everyone named (in the proposal) should take a legal action.

"People can judge my writings and talks. I don't think they can find that I have uttered such remarks," he said on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Fathul Bari said that even if the proposal is proven to be authentic, there was still no reason to ban the 16 from preaching in the state.

"This is a huge lie. They cannot simply label us just because there are differing views on Islamic principles," he said when contacted.

"I recently brought an imam of Masjid Nabawi to see Johor Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar. I don't think I have any problem with the palace," he said.

Johor Mufti Datuk Tahrir Shamsuddin refused comment when asked to verify the authenticity of the document.

"I am really sorry I cannot give any comment on this matter," he said.