Johor has no shortage of Islamic scholars and does not need experts from other states, state executive council member in charge of Islamic affairs Mutalip Abdul Rahim said.

He said this when asked on the Johor Islamic Council’s decision to ban Perlis mufti Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin and 15 others from speaking on Islam in the southern state, purportedly for causing confusion among Muslims.

“There are many Islamic experts in Johor […] there is no need for outsiders to speak here if we don’t allow it,” Mutalip said when contacted.

The Layang-layang assemblyperson said the state enactment allows Johor to decide who can or cannot speak on Islamic matters in the state.

Also on the ban list is Umno Youth exco member Fathul Bari Mat Jahaya.

Among others, the document accuses Asri of spreading slander against the mufti institution and maligning scholars from the Shafie Islamic school of thought.

Asri denied the claims made in the document as 'slander' while Fathul Bari declined to comment.