About 300 Islamic scholars, leaders and representatives of local Muslim groups will converge in Kuala Lumpur tomorrow for a national seminar on the mounting challenges facing the ummah (community).

The one-day gathering entitled 'Challenges to the Rights of Muslims' at Hotel Plaza is organised by the 14-member Allied Coordinating Committee of Islamic NGOs (Accin).

"It is by invitation only. We've invited the state religious affairs department officers and muftis," organising committee chairperson Yusri Mohamad said when contacted.

"The seminar was initially scheduled for March or April but was postponed twice before being finalised for Saturday," he added.

Speakers Dr Abdul Aziz Bari will provide the constitutional aspect, senior lawyer Zainur Zakaria will touch on the implications while former Accin chairperson Mustapha Ma and Jamaah Islah Malaysia president Zaid Kamaruddin will talk on defending Muslims' rights.

Touchy topic

Open discussions on religious issues remain a touchy topic in plural Malaysia where Islam is the official religion and the freedom to practice other faiths is guaranteed by the Federal Constitution.

On July 25, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi ordered all such discussions to cease immediately following strong protests against public forums by the 13-member Article 11 coalition currently campaigning for constitutional freedoms of Malaysians' to be upheld.

Muslim groups lauded Abdullah's directive while Article 11 said they were seeking a meeting with Abdullah but he has yet to respond.

Asked if the seminar was in violation of the directive, Yusri, who is Muslim Youth Movement (Abim) president and currently Accin chairperson, said it was part of the ongoing awareness programme conducted by Abim.

"Discussions will also revolve on issues related to Articles 11 and 121(1A) of the Federal Constitution," he said.

Asked if the interfaith commission (IFC) proposal will be discussed, he said that was not part of the topic for the panel discourse.

"We hope no one raises the interfaith commission issue but we can't help it if someone does. As far as we are concerned, that issue is settled after the government shelved it," he explained.

Yusri said the aim was to uphold and protect the Islamic faith and belief among Muslims.

"We want to find a formula that can help maintain a harmonious relationship between the Muslims and non-Muslims in our country," he added.

The main concern, he said, was over the erosion and fragility of Muslims' faith in the era of materialism that is filled with immoral activities.

Abdullah shot down the IFC proposal on March 24 last year to assuage the fears of Muslims who felt that the move threatened the special status of Islam as Malaysia's official religion.