Article 11, a coalition of non-government organisations (NGOs) that came under fire by Muslim conservatives for organising inter-religion dialogues, is vying to make a comeback after a nine month media hiatus.

Coming out the fold from a government issued gag order last July, the coalition wants to tell its side of the story via a series of video documentaries.

"It is not as though we were not speaking or doing anything. It was that we were not reported," said Ivy Josiah, executive director of Women's Aid Organisation (WAO), one of 11 NGOs that make up Article 11.

"Whilst we were perceived as being very quiet, we were doing internal evaluation to try and understand why did people perceive us the way they did," she told reporters at the video series launch today.

From March to July last year, the coalition held four public forums in several states. The last two forums, in Penang and Johor, were disrupted by demonstrating Muslim NGOs that accused Article 11 as questioning the status of Islam in Malaysia.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had last year ordered all discussions on the constitutional status of Islam be stopped for fear of fanning religious sentiments. A media blackout on the coalition's activities ensued.

The coalition said it obeyed the gag order not because they were afraid, but they did not want "tensions to escalate" enabling "an excuse for wider crackdown."

"Article 11 took heed of this call ... because we understood the pressures with which the prime minister was confronted," said Honey Tan (left), executive director of All Women's Action Party (AWAM).

Article 11 was taking time out to "clarify its goals", she said.

Countering the misinformation

The videos, in three parts, are to "counter the misinformation and attack against its work". It features interviews and recordings of past forums.

The videos, in English and Bahasa Malaysia, are part of a plan to reach a wider audience. The videos are also available online. The videos will explain the Article 11 coalition, its mission and objectives.

One of the videos, which is in Bahasa Malaysia, was a forum in which four people discuss the pressing issue of Islamisation.

The coalition however would not be distributing the videos at mosques or other religious congregations.

"We welcome any invitation to people who are not supportive to our dialogue. We are awaiting their invitation for us to have dialogue," said Tan.

Article 11 is also adamant that it's prime goal is not to challenge the status of Islam in the country, but to continue to raise public awareness of the federal constitution.

The coalition said it would continue to speak with politicians and civil society groups. The coalition also wants to meet the prime minister and had made six requests for an appointment since last July.

"It is important the prime minister meet with us to better understand our concerns," said the coalition in its press release.

Malik Imtiaz Sarwar (photo), president of National Human Rights Society (Hakam) said Article 11's continuing mission is to clarify the boundaries of Syariah and Civil courts.

Article 11 remains relevant, he said, citing the recent R Subshini case, where non-Muslim mother failed to get an injunction from the civil court to stop her Muslim husband from converting their one-year-old son.