KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 8 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Bar Council has decided to hold
the "Conversion to Islam" forum tomorrow despite strong opposition from top
leaders of Umno, PAS and several other organisations.
Its vice-president Ragunath Kesavan said the forum would not dispute Article 121
(1A) nor question Islam and its status as enshrined in Article 3 of the Federal
Constitution.
"The concerns of some quarters including a number of cabinet ministers such as
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed
Hamid Albar, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad
Zahid Hamidi and various non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and PAS are
noted," he told a press conference at the Bar Council's office here Friday.
Ragunath said the Bar Council's concern was addressing the issue of conflicts of
laws facing families caught between separate jurisdictions of the civil and
Syariah courts.
"The Bar Council recognises and respects Article 121 (1A), but there is a strong
viewpoint that it is unjust to compel anyone to be subjected to the laws and
courts based on a religion that they do not profess, and this viewpoint must be
addressed."
He said the Bar Council's concern centred on the manner of dealing with the
current conflicts and there must be concerted efforts by the government to
address the issue constructively.
"We are heartened by the prime minister's recent reported statements calling for
more interfaith dialogues to promote and ensure religious harmony among
Malaysians of diverse beliefs.
"However, the Bar Council is troubled by continuing calls from certain quarters
that its forum tomorrow be cancelled. Their claims that the forum will create
misunderstanding, anger and tension, are in stark contrast with the PM's
assurances."
He said discourses on issues confronting the nation should not take place at the
official level only behind closed doors, but must involve the public and those
whose lives were affected by the issues.
On the plan by some NGOs to demonstrate and issue a memorandum to protest
against the forum, Ragunath said the Bar Council would adopt an open attitude.
He said they had the right to do so and the Bar Council would not stop them from
submitting the memorandum or hold a demonstration.
"The forum is to enable the public to understand the issue and arising problems,
and one day we may hold a dialogue with the (protesting) groups."
He said so far, about 150 individuals and representatives of various
organisations had registered for participation in the forum.
The speakers will be the director of the Syariah Law and Political Science
Centre/Senior Fellow of the Institute of Islamic Understanding Dr Wan Azhar Wan
Ahmad, and lawyers Ravi Nekoo, K. Shanmuga and Mohamed Haniff Khatri Abdulla.
Another speaker, Syariah prosecutor with the Federal Territory Islamic Religious
Department and former Syariah judge, Dr Naim Mokhtar, had withdrawn from the
forum.
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