Joint Press Statement
Article 11 Unrelated to Inter-Faith Commission
26 July 2006

Kenyataan Akhbar: Artikel 11 Tiada Kaitan dengan IFC (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.

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.

Kenyataan Akhbar Bersama
Artikel 11 Tiada Kaitan dengan IFC (Inter-faith Commission)
26 Julai 2006

Kenyataan akhbar oleh kumpulan Artikel 11, sebuah gabungan NGO-NGO Malaysia yang bertekad mempertahankan hak-hak asasi rakyat Malaysia, tanpa mengira agama, bangsa, keturunan, tempat kelahiran dan jantina.

Artikel 11 sangat prihatin terhadap kenyataan Perdana Menteri yang dilaporkan di akhbar-akhbar hari ini yang mengarahkan Artikel 11 berhenti menganjurkan forum-forum umum. Kami percaya kenyataan beliau mungkin didasarkan oleh kesilapfahaman yang telah tersebar luas, yang mendakwa aktiviti-aktiviti gabungan ini bertujuan untuk menimbulkan semula inisiatif mewujudkan Suruhanjaya Antara Agama (IFC).

Artikel 11 ingin mengambil kesempatan ini untuk menjelaskan bahawa forum-forum umum bertajuk Federal Constitution: Protection for All tiada kaitan langsung dengan inisiatif IFC. Forum-forum Artikel 11 sebenarnya menumpukan kepada hak-hak asasi setiap rakyat yang dijamin oleh Perlembagaan Malaysia yang merupakan undang-undang utama di Malaysia. Forum-forum tersebut juga bertujuan untuk mengenengahkan keresahan masyarakat awam terhadap kes-kes beberapa individu yang tidak mendapat pembelaan undang-undang dan terpaksa menanggung kesusahan akibat wujudnya masalah bidangkuasa mahkamah. Tiada sebarang perbincangan tentang IFC di forum-forum umum Artikel 11.

Artikel 11 akan berusaha mengaturkan pertemuan dengan Perdana Menteri untuk mengetahui lebih lanjut kemusykilannya terhadap aktiviti-aktivi gabungan ini dan seterusnya memberi penjelasan terhadap kekeliruan yang mengaitkan Artikel 11 dan IFC.

Artikel 11 mengambil perhatian terhadap pandangan Perdana Menteri. Ahli-ahli gabungan akan segera mengadakan pertemuan untuk mengambilkira pandangan Perdana Menteri dalam perancangan aktiviti-aktiviti di masa masa hadapan.

Article 11 terdiri daripada/comprises of:

• All Women's Action Society (AWAM)
• Bar Council Malaysia
• Catholic Lawyers Society
• Interfaith Spiritual Fellowship
• Malaysian Civil Liberties Society, Protem Committee (MCLS)
• Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism & Sikhism (MCCBCHS)
• National Human Rights Society (HAKAM)
• Pure Life Society
• Sisters In Islam (SIS)
• Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM)
• Vivekananda Youth Movement, Seremban
• Women's Aid Organisation (WAO)
• Women's Development Collective (WDC)
  

Related Resources:

• Joint Press Statement: Rights for All Under the Federal Constitution
• Joint Press Statement: Article 11 Unrelated to IFC
• Joint Press Statement: Stop Discrimination Against Non-Muslims in Cases of Conversion
• Article 11 Website