Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim issued the invite to the two parties today.

In a statement on Monday, Abdul Khalid said the state was aware of the public sentiment on the arrest by JAIS, which has powers that are independent of the state government to implement the Selangor Islamic Administration Enactment.

He hoped JAIS would give a reasonable explanations to the public about the incident, as there have been uncertainties and questions arising as to the nature of arrest and that they would conduct investigations in a fair manner.

Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin

The Islamic scholar’s arrest unleashed a torrent of accusations and finger pointing over who ordered it.

On Monday Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak denied that the arrest had anything to do with the federal government and shifted the blame to the Selangor state government.

Abdul Khalid and other Selangor leaders, on their part, denied any involvement, and labelled the arrest as a "ruthless act".

JAIS yesterday said that Asri’s arrest was not politically motivated and that the charge against Asri was for breaking the law by not obtaining the necessary permit for preaching on religion.

This was an offence the department had written to notify Asri about several times before, said Jais director Datuk Mohammed Khusrin Munawi.

Asri, who was arrested by JAIS enforcement officers and police on Sunday night while preaching at a private residence in Hulu Klang, has been released on bond and is yet to be charged.