PENANG, Sun: The four–hour public forum in Cititel Hotel, Penang, on the Federal Constitution: Protection for All ended almost abruptly at 10.15 a.m. – reminding us sharply of what happened on Nov 9, 1996, when the Second Asia–Pacific Conference on East Timor was actually disrupted by leading Umno Youth members.
The Penang forum on Article 11 was, however, not disrupted but ended abruptly after only half an hour into the session. Some journalists were seen interviewing Penang Chief Police Officer Dato’ Christopher Wan when he arrived at the scene in Penang Road after the forum.
The forum was scheduled to begin at 9 a.m., but began only at 9.45 a.m. after a demonstration by more than a hundred people, flashing placards that called for Perangi Islam Liberal (War Against Liberal Islam) greeted more than 300 people who turned up for the meeting.
Police of nearly a company’s strength of 90 personnel were present to ensure that the demonstration did not turn unruly. Some Riot Squad policemen in their usual gear were present on the road of the demonstration. It is unclear whether other Riot Squat policemen were on standby elsewhere.
A leaflet purportedly published by “Penang Muslim Community” stated “Don’t Seize Our Rights! Don’t Humiliate Islam! Don’t Insult Our Prophet! Say No to Article 11 Interfaith Commission.” It is not clear whether the organisation is a registered society.
The forum was nearly disrupted when, upon being called to order by the chairman Prof Johan Saravanamuthu, two of the demonstrators who had gone into the venue at Cititel asked for the meeting to be conducted in Bahasa Malaysia.
Prof Johan handled this initial request well by stating that the forum was organised for the public in Penang and then proceeded to tell the speakers that they were free to speak in any language. He then told the forum that the police had advised that the meeting be cut short.
Because of police advice to shorten the forum, only three of the five speakers listed addressed it.
The three speakers comprised Honey Tan Lay Ean of one of the 13 hosting non–governmental organisations, constitutional law professor Shad Saleem Faruqi and constitutional lawyer Malik Imtiaz. One P. Ramakrishnan, the president of of Penang–based Aliran, did not speak as he gave way to the other guest speakers from out–station.
Among the public interest cases involving freedom of religion that were highlighted were Sharmala, Nonya Tahir, Korporal Moorthy who was posthumously promoted to Sergeant, and Nina Joy.
When the last speaker, Zaid Ibrahim, the National Front MP for Kota Baru, rose to speak, one of the forum organisers, Pahang–based lawyer Haris Ibrahim told the forum that it had to end following police advice.
Haris requested the disappointed participants to sign the petition for the Malaysian right to freedom of religion. So far, more than 18,000 people have signed this nation–wide petition.
The forum had so far been held in Petaling Jaya and Malacca.
Article 11 comprises 13 NGOs – the All Women’s Action Society (Awam), the Bar Council Malaysia, the Catholic Lawyers Society, the Interfaith Spiritual Fellowship, the pro–tem committee of the Malaysian Civil Liberties Society (MCLS), the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism and Sikhism (MCCBCHS), the National Human Rights Society (Hakam), the Pure Life Society, the Sisters in Islam (SIS), the Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram), the Vivekanda Youth Movement of Seremban, the Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO, and the Woimen’s Developoment Collective (WDC).
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