Former Perlis mufti Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin said that the Syarie Lawyers Association of Malaysia (PGSM) had given a written assurance to make a public apology and withdraw all allegations against him.

He said the written assurance was signed and given to him by PGSM president Mohamad Isa Abd Ralip following a two-hour meeting at a hotel in Kuala Lumpur this afternoon.

NONE He said the written assurance was also signed by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of Islamic affairs Mohamad Jamil Khir Baharum as a witness.

Islamic Development Department (Jakim) director-general Wan Mohamad Sheikh Abdul Aziz was also present at the meeting

Asri said he would now wait for PGSM's public apology to him to appear on the group's official website and in other media channels.

"If the group apologises and withdraws all its allegations against me, I would return the favour by forgiving them," he told reporters after a forum in Penang tonight.

Asked whether he would proceed with his threat to file a defamation suit if PGSM failed to keep its word, Asri said he would have to look at the reasons behind the group's reluctance to make the apology and withdraw its allegations before taking further action.

However, he felt that PGSM was obliged to fulfill its written promise.

"Being an Islamic-based organisation representing Muslim lawyers, the body has to keep its word," he said.

Memorandum to King

The bone of contention between the 38-year-old religious figurehead and PGSM was the memorandum sent by the association to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin on Oct 12.

The memorandum, backed by 13 Muslim non-governmental organisations, opposed the proposed appointment of Asri as the new president of the Islamic Da'wah Foundation of Malaysia on the grounds that he had insulted certain Islamic scholars.

Asri has urged the association to provide proof that he had insulted renowned scholars such as Imam Nawawi, Imam Bukhari and Imam Ghazali.

The former mufti said the PGSM president had met him today to find a solution to settle their differences.

NONE "I told him that I am not seeking monetary settlement. I am demanding a public apology and withdrawal of the allegations hurled at me.

"All the allegations were lies and defamatory in nature. Some allegations simply did not make sense," he said, adding that the meeting was initiated by Mohd Jamil.

He also said Mohamad Sheikh clarified to him that the press statement made by one of its officers, Zamihan Mat Zain, disputing the authenticity of the Islamic scholar's Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Jordan, was not Jakim's view.

"The Jakim director-general told me that Zamihan was speaking in his personal capacity," he added.

On Tuesday, Asri said that he was contemplating taking legal action against Zamihan and PGSM for allegedly undermining his credibility and tarnishing his reputation as an Islamic scholar and Muslim.

Asri also said that he would seek a public explanation from the Selangor Islamic Department (Jais) for the manner it carried out his arrest Sunday night.

The scholar was detained after conducting a religious talk at a bungalow in Ampang.

The former Mufti has claimed that he was a victim of a conspiracy authored by those who disagreed with his views.

Asri is being investigated under Section 119 of the Selangor Islamic Administration Enactment for not possessing authorisation to conduct religious talks.

If found guilty, he is liable to a maximum fine of RM3,000 or maximum two years jail or both.

Several prominent figures, including Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, have questioned the motive behind Asri’s arrest.