In a Facebook post, Zulkifli said he meant “will engage”, and not “has engaged”.

“Official invites (to discuss the bill) have been sent out to all non-Muslim organisations,” he said, adding that the decision to engage various parties was in line with the unity government’s stance of ensuring that issues are ironed out properly.

He reiterated that the proposed law will not apply to non-Muslims and was meant for Muslims only.

Yesterday, Zulkifli was reported as saying that organisations such as the Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM), the Malaysian Taoist Association, and Sri Mahamariamman Temple were involved in the discussions.

He was responding to a question in the Dewan Rakyat by Pakatan Haparan’s Pulai MP, Suhaizan Kayat, about the extent of outreach efforts to non-Muslim groups seeking clarity on the bill’s amendments.

This morning, CFM chairman Cor Episcopa Philip Thomas said there had been no engagement with it or any of its component bodies, as reported.

CFM represents the majority of Christians in Malaysia, its three main component bodies being the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Malaysia, the Council of Churches Malaysia, and the National Evangelical Christian Fellowship.

Set to be tabled for debate in the Dewan Rakyat this month, Act 355 has been opposed by women’s rights group Sisters in Islam and lawyer-activist Latheefa Koya, who claimed it would give unchecked power to religious authorities.

It was also criticised by Perlis mufti Asri Zainul Abidin, who claimed it would hinder freedom of thought as well as academic freedom in the name of religion.