press statement from article 11

Press Statement

Article 11 Unrelated to Inter-Faith Commission

A press statement by Article 11, a coalition of Malaysian NGOs committed to upholding the fundamental rights of all Malaysians regardless of religion, race, descent, place of birth or gender.

Article 11 is very concerned that the Prime Minister’s statement reported in today’s press, calling for a halt to Article 11’s public forums, is based on the widespread but mistaken belief that the coalition’s activities are aimed at reviving the initiative to establish an Inter-Faith Commission (IFC).

Article 11 would like to take this opportunity to clarify that the forums, entitled “Federal Constitution: Protection for All”, are in no way related with the IFC initiative. Rather, Article 11’s forums focus on the rights that the Federal Constitution, as the supreme law of Malaysia, guarantees to each citizen. 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 therefore suffer as a result of the current jurisdictional uncertainty in the courts. There is no discussion about the IFC in Article 11’s public forums or other activities.

Article 11 will seek a meeting with the Prime Minister to request further information about his concerns regarding the coalition’s activities and to provide clarification on the misconception that links Article 11 with the IFC.

inks the IFC. hat equates on on the concerns regarding the coalition’ssion (IFC).

Article 11 takes note of the Prime Minister’s concerns. The coalition members will meet soon and will carefully consider his advice in its discussions of future plans.

Article 11 comprises:

v All Women’s Action Society (AWAM)

v Bar Council Malaysia

v Catholic Lawyers Society

v Interfaith Spiritual Fellowship

v Malaysian Civil Liberties Society, Protem Committee (MCLS)

v Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism & Sikhism (MCCBCHS)

v National Human Rights Society (HAKAM)

v Pure Life Society

v Sisters In Islam (SIS)

v Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM)

v Vivekananda Youth Movement, Seremban

v Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO)

v Women’s Development Collective (WDC)

click here to read the same statement in bahasa.

click here to read the press statement by malik imitiaz, HAKAM president.

click here to read the press statement of centre for public policy studies (CPPC)

please circulate this around as there is high possibility that these statements would not make it to the press.