Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil today rebutted a claim by 14 groups based in Sabah and Sarawak that the Mufti (Federal Territories) Bill 2024 will turn Malaysia into an Islamic state.

According to Fahmi, the bill closely mirrors the Sabah Fatwa Enactment which has been in force for the past 20 years.

Despite having a similar law to the proposed bill for two decades, he pointed out that it has never disrupted the cultures and lifestyles of Sabahans.

“Sabah has not experienced any changes in religious practices...