Simmering tensions between religious conservatives and liberals in Malaysia have come to the fore with the arrest of a prominent Islamic cleric for preaching without a licence.
The weekend arrest of Dr Mohamad Asri, 52, a preacher called 'moderate' by supporters but described by opponents as 'divisive', underscores the country's complex Islamic system, observers say.
Asri was preaching to about 300 followers at a private house in western Selangor state on Sunday when about 60 Islamic police officers arrested him - and then freed him without charge but on bail, amid an outcry, pending further investigation. The soft-spoken, London-educated Asri refused to speculate on why conservatives were unhappy with his moderate views on Islam.
'If it is about a permit, then it is odd. I have preached all over the country without any problems.'
His supporters, among them Prime Minister Najib Razak, brushed off the charge, saying he had been preaching for years in Selangor and across the country.
According to the law, preachers need a licence to practise, but this has never been applied to prominent clerics, including Asri. The charge, however, is serious and carries a three-year jail sentence.
Each of the 13 states in Malaysia has its own Islamic administration and jurisdiction. Islamic officials are often divided over policies.