There has been no progress on the government's Committee on Promoting Interfaith Understanding and Harmony since its first meeting earlier this year.

NONE Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) president Rev Thomas Philips ( far left ) said it has been "quite some time" since the government got in touch with them.

"The cabinet has not said anything and we have not received any information as yet," he said when contacted last night.

The committee hit a snag last April following a misunderstanding between the council and Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, who was reported as saying that it was a "small fry" committee.

This prompted the council to pull out of the committee, pending a clarification by the deputy premier.

Muhyiddin quickly denied the charge, saying he was misquoted - an explanation the council accepted .

"We said okay, we are ready to move forward but we haven't heard from them since then. Now we have to wait and see where it goes from here," Thomas said.

Outside interference?

He noted that the indefinite postponement may have something to do with "certain groups" who are unhappy with the committee's interfaith tag, though he declined to elaborate.

NONE Without making references to any organisation or individuals, he said that these groups may be twisting the issue to fulfil their own agendas.

The most vocal opponent to the committee was Malay rights group Perkasa, who claimed that it does not reflect Islam's position as the nation's official religion.

Perkasa chief Ibrahim Ali ( right ) also demanded that the committee either be put under the purview of Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Jamil Khir Baharom, who is in charge of Islamic affairs, or be renamed as the committee on inter-racial understanding.

Thomas said it does not matter to the council what the committee is called, so long as the government continues to support efforts for all faiths to engage each other.

"We don't want to raise tension or unnecessary anxiety, but we also can't go on like this. We must move to engage (each other) so that this mistrust can be removed."

There is still hope

Thomas noted however that the council has faith that the committee will eventually come together.

permatang pasir by election 110809 penang bc chairman koh tsu koon "We are still optimistic that we'll move forward. Everyone needs to accept the reality that we need to sit together and talk, or else we will be sitting in our own cocoons and not moving forward," he said.

In April, the government announced its plan to set up the committee, which falls under the portfolio of Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Koh Tsu Koon ( left ) who is in charge of the National Unity and Integration Department.

The committee is chaired by former Kota Bharu MP Ilani Isahak and includes senior representatives from the Islamic Development Department (Jakim), the Institute of Islamic Understanding (Ikim) and the MCCBCHST.