Johor state religious commission chairman Abd Mutalip Abd Rahim said that Johor had many talented speakers of their own who gave speeches and religious lectures and that the religious laws of Johor were unlike those of other states.

“If there’s such a directive, if there is already notice of a ban, then what can you do about it?

“Johor does things its way, it’s not like the other states. Johor also has many talented speakers,” he said when contacted by FMT today.

Abd Mutalip, who is also the assemblyman for Layang-Layang, said that notice of the ban should not have been made an issue.

“Don’t make it more than it is. If you’re not allowed to speak, then no need to speak,” he said.

However, Mutalip stressed that he wasn’t responsible for issuing the notice.

“You’ll have to ask the administration department. I didn’t issue it. The thing is, other states have such rules too but we chose not to make it viral.”

In the directive allegedly issued by MAIJ, Perlis mufti Mohd Asri was listed as among other speakers accused of confusing the Muslim community and of not being in line with the members of Sunnah Wal Jamaah.

He was also accused of slandering the institution of the mufti and of frequently insulting ulamas of the al-Syafie school of thought.

According to a report by Malaysiakini today, Mohd Asri had told MAIJ to produce evidence of their accusations against him.