PM leaves it to Home Ministry to decide action on Bar Council

PUTRAJAYA, Aug 12 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said yesterday that he would leave it to the Home Ministry to decide whether to take action against the Bar Council including using the Internal Security Act and Sedition Act for organising the "Conversion to Islam" forum in the federal capital on Saturday which resulted in a tense situation.

"I leave it to the Home Ministry to study what happened, and if there is concrete evidence, the ministry will decide on what action to take," he said when asked about calls by various quarters for the government to invoke the Acts against the Bar Council.

Speaking to reporters after chairing the inaugural meeting of the National Economic Council at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre here, Abdullah said he hoped such forums would not be organised in future.

"Issues concerning religion are very sensitive. Matters (on religion) are already spelt out... there is no need for discussions," he said, adding that between having and not having them, it was better to opt for the latter.

The Bar Council had gone ahead with the forum despite being advised by many quarters including Cabinet ministers to call it off so as not to offend communal sensitivities.

Abdullah added that it was more important for the people to learn from what happened to avoid a similar situation from recurring.

About 1,000 people from various political parties and Muslim non-governmental organisations gathered at the venue to demand a stop to the forum.

As the situation got tense and on the advice of the police, the Bar Council called off the forum, which was to last a day, an hour after it started at 9am.

Asked if the Barisan Nasional had shortlisted its candidates for the Permatang Pauh by-election on Aug 26, Abdullah said: "The lists are always short."

-TMI