The Article 11 coalition is seeking a meeting with Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to clear up accusations linking its public forums on constitutional rights to a proposed advisory body on interfaith matters.

Abdullah himself shot down the controversial Inter-Faith Commission (IFC) initiative on Feb 26 last year.

Yesterday, he ordered all discussions on the constitutional status of Islam to stop immediately for fear of fanning religious sentiments.

In a joint statement today, the coalition said it will take note of Abdullah's concerns in planning future activities.

"(We) will seek a meeting with (him) to request further information about his concerns regarding the coalition's activities and to provide clarification on the misconception that links (us) with the IFC.

"The coalition members will meet soon and will carefully consider his advice in its discussions of future plans," read the statement.

The group comprising 13 local non-governmental organisations (NGOs) has a declared commitment to uphold citizens' fundamental rights.

The Article 11 road show has been fiercely opposed by Muslim NGOs, which saw the Penang leg aborted shortly after it started. Police kept the situation under control during a similar attempt in Johor Baru last Saturday.

The group is planning further public forums in other cities.

Expressing concern over Abdullah's gag order, the group reiterated that its discussions on the constitutional freedom of religion was unrelated to the IFC proposal.

"We are very concerned that (Abdullah's) statement to halt the public forums is based on the widespread but mistaken belief that the coalition's activities are aimed at reviving the initiative to establish an IFC," said the group.

"We want to take this opportunity to clarify that the forums entitled 'Federal Constitution: Protection for All' are in no way related with the IFC initiative."

The group explained that the forums focused on the rights and guarantees of citizens under the supreme law of the country.

"The forums are also intended to highlight the concerns of civil society resulting from the plight of various individuals who are unable to obtain legal redress and who suffer as a result of the current jurisdictional uncertainty in the courts.

"There is no discussion about the IFC in any of the public forums or other activities."

Gag order criticised

Meanwhile, Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) chairperson P Waytha Moorthy described Abdullah's directive as another form of government-engineered propaganda "to stop open and liberal discussion on the subject of faith and religion".

He said every multi-religious society would give rise to peculiar problems which would naturally require immense patience, understanding and tolerance.

"Where is tolerance when such open and liberal interfaith discussions are branded as sensitive and rocking the cradle of harmony? The government's conduct reflects serious contradiction," he said in an e-mailed statement.

"Every democracy must freely allow open discussion, freedom of assembly and freedom to worship. In Malaysia, such rights and freedom are embedded in the Federal Constitution."

He said the inability to openly discuss 'sensitive' issues reflected the immaturity and lack of education and confidence.

He also blamed Malay nationalism for the "present uprising", citing education materials that are "filtered and concocted to fundamentally" suit that objective.

"Who is to be blamed? The government presently does not share broad and liberal discussions. Why?"

Waytha Moorthy also questioned the government's unwillingness to openly discuss the effect and implications of Article 11 and 121(1A) of the Federal Constitution, the issue of embracement and renunciation of Islam, and the role of the syariah courts and whether they have usurped the powers of the secular courts.

He said that even if the issues are discussed, it would be done behind closed doors.

Waytha Moorthy urged the government to exercise caution in abruptly halting any forums especially on constitutional rights.