Perlis mufti Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin has accused the Johor Islamic Affairs Department of slandering him, after the council put him on a list of "banned" individuals.

The council lists the mufti among 16 individuals who are banned from speaking in Johor for "causing confusion" through "deviant" teachings.

"This is slander. I challenge those who have slandered me to prove it.

"I believe all those who are slandered (in the document) should take legal action," Asri said when contacted late yesterday.

According to the document purportedly issued by the Johor Islamic Affairs Department, the 16 individuals are banned from speaking on Islam in the southern state for going against the Sunni teachings.

The document appears to be a copy of a proposal prepared for the approval of the Johor sultan.

The cover page of the proposal, circulating through instant messaging application WhatsApp, has the handwritten word 'Setuju' (Agreed) and the dates Dec 31, 2015, on the top right corner.

'Accusations based on claims in video'

The document, among others, accuses Asri of slandering the institution of muftis and maligning scholars of the Shafie Islamic school of thought.

Asri said he believes the accusations are based on claims made by a Home Ministry official in a video that has been circulating online.

"Malaysians can read my writings and follow my ceramah online. Can they find evidence of these things that I am accused of?" he asked.

The document states that many speakers come to Johor, under the guise of Islamic scholars, to speak at mosques.

However, their credentials are suspect, or they spread information that "cause confusion and disunity among Muslims".

The department said the Johor Islamic Council has agreed to the proposal.

Johor executive council member in charge of Islamic Affairs Mutalip Abdul Rahim did not respond to Malaysiakini 's request for comment.