KUALA LUMPUR: All questions on the Mufti (Federal Territories) Bill 2024 should be directed to the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs), Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar, said the Prime Minister.
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said this after the launch of the 37th Lawasia Conference, which was held at a hotel in the city on Sunday (Oct 13).
He was asked if the Bill— also known as the Mufti Bill—would be tabled on Monday (Oct 14) despite concerns from several groups.
"On the Mufti Bill, please refer to the Religious Affairs Minister," said Anwar.
The Mufti Bill is due to be tabled for a second and third reading in the upcoming Parliament session, which begins on Oct 14.
The Mufti Bill (Federal Territories) 2024 aims to provide a definition for Ahli Sunnah Wal Jamaah, which has a theology based on the Al-Asyairah and Al-Maturidiah teachings.
On Friday (Oct 11), 14 groups based in Sarawak and Sabah claimed that the Bill would turn Malaysia into an Islamic state overnight.
They also claimed that the Bill violated the Malaysia Agreement of 1963 (MA63) and represented a direct attack on the country's secular system.
Various other groups, too, had raised their reservations about the Bill being unconstitutional.
