There were no foreign elements behind the Article 11 movement, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz today.

"The government has no information of foreign elements trying to influence the interfaith discussions. But the government will continue to monitor the situation," he told the Dewan Rakyat.

He also stressed on the importance for Malaysians to be sensitive when discussing religious matters.

The minister was responding to a supplementary question from Wan Hashim Wan Teh (BN -Gerik).

Wan Hashim voiced his concern that the interfaith commission and the discussions might be influenced by "foreigners bent on creating disharmony and disunity."

Earlier, in responding to the original question from Wan Hashim, Nazri reiterated that the government had no plans to abolish or transfer Article 121 (1A) and Article 11 of the Federal Constitution as it finds that the legislation clearly states the separation of civil and syariah powers in the courts and the right to freedom of religion.

On the same subject, Nazri said issues arising from the interpretation of Article 121 (1A) could be resolved in the Federal Court.

Official religion

Reiterating that the position of Islam as the official religion in the country is guaranteed in the constitution, he said no one could question the supremacy of the religion.

He reiterated there was no need for setting up an inter-faith commission or a Article 11 forum as the article in question guaranteed the right to freedom of religion.

Stressing that the government had called for an end to the forum, he cautioned that to discuss religious matters was more sensitive than discussing racial issues and would create "division between the people of different religions and would destroy the harmony we strived so long for."

Nazri added that the government would not hesitate to take action on any parties that continued to flout the directive.

"Islam is the official religion as stated in the Constitution. No one (can) question it. At the same time, questions arising from the interpretation of Article 121 (1A) can be brought up in court.

"Article 11 guarantees the right to freedom of religion. We don't need any forums to discuss matters on religion. These discussion harms society more than it helps," he said.

Answering to another supplementary question from Bung Moktar Radin (BN-Kinabatangan), Nazri said the government had no plans to detain and investigate any parties that continued to hold the forums.

However, he added that "there is no unfettered freedom to discussions that could create friction among Malaysians of different religion."