Liberal Indonesian Islamic scholar Ulil Abshar Abdalla, who is slated to speak at a roundtable organised by the Islamic Renaissance Front (IRF) in Kuala Lumpur on Oct 15, has been barred from entering the country.

The Home Ministry issued the ban order today. There has been wide criticism of Ulil Abshar coming to speak in Malaysia from Umno and a number of Islamic groups, including Jakim and Isma.