PETALING JAYA: The proposed Bill to prevent the propagation of non-Muslim beliefs to Muslims will only apply to the Federal Territories, says Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Idris Ahmad.

       He also said the Bill was not new as 10 states in the country had similar enactments since the 1980s, and only four states – Federal Territories (Labuan, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya), Penang, Sabah and Sarawak – did not.

       "The proposed Bill in this context will be used in the Federal Territories only," he said in a statement on Facebook Friday (Sept 10).

       "For states that have not drafted such an enactment, the matter will be decided by their respective state assemblies," he added.

       Idris said the new Bill was important as Article 11(4) of the Federal Constitution required a law to curb the propagation of non-Muslim belief among Muslims.

       At the same time, Idris also assured that the Bill would not go against Article 11 of the Federal Constitution which guarantees freedom of religion.

       "The Bill needs policy approval from the Cabinet and consent from the King and it needs to be passed in Parliament," he added.

       Recently, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Ahmad Marzuk Shaary said the government was currently drafting several new syariah laws, which included the anti-propagation bill.