The second meeting of the cabinet-established interfaith committee scheduled for today has been postponed indefinitely because of Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin's remark yesterday, dismissing the committee as a ' small fry '.

According to Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) vice-president Mohan Shan, the scheduled meeting today was cancelled because committee members are seeking an explanation from Muhyiddin.

"There will be no meeting pending verification from the deputy prime minister," said Mohan when contacted.

The cancellation of the meeting is yet another major setback for Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's 1Malaysia campaign, aimed at strengthening currently fragile ties between ethnic groups.

Formed under the National Unity and Integration Department, which falls under the Prime Minister's Department, the new committee was aimed at promoting greater understanding between the many religious groups in the country.

Officially, the committee is known as the Committee on Promoting Inter-faith Understanding and Harmony.

However, the committee has come under fire from Malay rights pressure group Perkasa and the Perak Fatwa Committee , ostensibly because the inter-faith committee undermines the position of Islam.

Emergency meeting

Asked on this, Muhyiddin tried to sooth concerns of Muslim groups by dismissing the committee as a "small fry" with no legal powers.

Following this, the MCCBCHST held an emergency meeting yesterday evening to deliberate on Muhyiddin's remark and issued a statement condemning the deputy premier.

"It is unbecoming of a minister, more so the deputy prime minister, to look down on leaders of the other religious communities in the country.

"The various religious representatives of the MCCBCHS are committed to sincere and frank dialogue between different faiths as equals at the table.

"It would be difficult to proceed with the state goals of the committee, if this matter is not clarified," said MCCBCHST president Rev Thomas Philips.

Philips also urged Minister in charge of Unity and National Integration Koh Tsu Koon to clarify the matter as soon as possible in order for the interfaith committee to establish its framework in order to "proceed with credibility".