In a brief statement today, CFM chairman Cor Episcopa Philip Thomas said no such consultation with it or any of its component bodies had taken place as claimed by deputy religious affairs minister Zulkifli Hasan.

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

He said this in the Dewan Rakyat in response to Pakatan Haparan’s Pulai MP, Suhaizan Kayat, who asked about the extent of outreach efforts to non-Muslim groups seeking clarity on the bill’s amendments.

“The polemics surrounding Act 355 have existed for a long time and there are many issues linked to it. How much advocacy has been undertaken to explain the matter to non-Muslim communities?” Suhaizan asked.

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.