Former Perlis mufti can hold religious talks in Johor

2009/11/07

JOHOR BARU, Sat: Former Perlis mufti Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin can hold religious talks in Johor, anytime and anywhere.

This is because the state's regulation does not require a person to have any special credential letter or tauliah to hold religious talks here, but must be an accredited religious figure.

Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman said every religious personality was welcome to the state, including Mohd Asri, to organise talks in Johor.

"However, should they want to set up a public discourse or events that require mass audience, they need to get a police permit to hold the gatherings," he said after attending a Quran recital completion ceremony hosted by UEM Land Bhd here today.

Last Sunday, Mohd Asri was arrested by the Selangor Islamic Religious Council for holding religious talks in the state without any credential letter and was subsequently released.

Abdul Ghani said Johor had yet to ban any religious speaker from holding talks in the state.

Meanwhile, the Johor Islamic Religious Council, together with the Terengganu Islamic Foundation (TIF) and the state community development department would implement a programme, Al-Quran Smart Programme at all Kemas kindergartens in the state.

Abdul Ghani said the project, aimed at creating quality Quran reciters among children and five Kemas kindergartens in Gelang Patah, was for the pioneer batch.

The programme will be held at Kemas kindergartens for an hour daily, with modules designed by TIF. -- BERNAMA