In response to Malik Imtiaz's statement Setting the record straight on interfaith commission , the Muslim Professionals Forum (MPF) reiterates its position that matters of harmony and understanding between religions ought to be handled by the legitimate and respected leaders of the mainstream religions through amicable, voluntary dialogues.

This is also consistent with the advice of the prime minister himself. Grievances that relate to infringement of human rights in the course of interaction between religious communities are within the domain of Suhakam, a body invested with statutory powers to investigate such complaints, to be finally adjudicated by the law courts.

The establishment of another statutory body, that is the Interfaith Commission, for such purposes is therefore superfluous. Neither do we need a body, armed with special powers by parliament, to compel leaders of Malaysia's religious communities to enter into dialogues.

Malik Imtiaz seems overly anxious to get Malaysia into the record books for having the dubious distinction of being the first country to do so. Dialogues should be voluntary, and there already exist organisations that facilitate these inter-faith exchanges.

Malik Imtiaz's lengthy and convoluted explanation over the proposed setting up of the IFC and the manner with which this has been pursued over the years do not reassure mainstream Muslims.

A press statement by the chairman of Accin (Allied Coordinating Committee of Islamic NGOs) reads: 'Accin had earlier set out certain parameters for its continued participation [...] These included that Islam be represented by mainstream Muslims and that only interfaith matters be discussed.

'We pointed out to the pro-tem committee that the right to practice one's religion does not extend to interfering with another religion. The other members of the committee rejected these parameters and pursued their course of interfering with Islam [...]

It was hardly surprising that the conference to discuss the IFC held in February 2003 was an abject failure because Muslim individuals and NGOs withdrew en masse.

Mainstream Muslims have genuine misgivings that sections 5.1a-i and 5.2 (Powers of the Commission) of the draft document on the IFC will undermine the status of Islam and its administration as provided for by the Federal Constitution.

We will not be easily persuaded this time around by the conciliatory tone of Imtiaz's statement having witnessed how the IFC agenda has been arrogantly pushed in blatant disregard of mainstream Muslim sensitivity.

Be that as it may, the MPF welcomes genuine, sincere dialogues with our friends belonging to other faiths in our common cause of opposing secular materialism and protecting a religious way of life in a society increasingly weakened by a crisis of morals and values.

The writer is a board member of the Muslim Professionals Forum.