Groups and individuals opposed to the proposed formation of an interfaith body, statutory or otherwise, should not pre-judge the initiative, said a minister at the opening of a national conference on the move today.

Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Dr Rais Yatim urged opponents to set aside their differences and make an attempt to listen to what others are saying about the proposed interfaith commission.

A two-day national conference began today at a hotel in Bangi, Selangor attended by top leaders of the country's major religions and minority ethnic groups, including from Sabah and Sarawak.

"I am here today with an open mind. We need to first listen to the content of the proposal and not pre-judge the discussion," Rais told a press conference later.

"If the content of the draft proposal (being discussed here) is not suitable, the Attorney-General can make the relevant changes accordingly," he added.

Although some are prejudiced against the move , Rais said the initiative will be good for Malaysia's national harmony and unity.

Earlier in his keynote address 'Embracing Common Values as a Unifying Factor for a Bangsa Malaysia', the minister said the necessity of an interfaith commission would depend on the proposal's express objectives, the form it takes and who runs it.

"It also depends much on what it is supposed to achieve and via what powers," he said, adding that from here on, the proposal would undergo a gestation period at different levels of the government.

'Milestone event'

Describing today's gathering as a "milestone event", he said it was not often that efforts are made to bring together so many on account of strengthening interfaith interaction.

"An ultra Muslim may regard my being here as something that is not within the prime or mainstream inner thoughts.

"Or, worse, they may interpret my being here as lending credibility to a movement that is going contrary to their own subjective thoughts on what is Islamic and what is not," he pointed out.

Citing words of wisdom, he told those in that frame of mind that any lifting of a finger to make mankind more cooperative towards understanding each other was worth the effort.

"Many of us in the past have been unfairly and prematurely adjudged and sentenced too many times for what would turn out later to be humanely worthwhile," he said, without mentioning any examples.

"Some quarters may be happy to note that there is at last a conglomerate effort in translating what freedom of worship requires of the citizenry, of the justice system and essentially of the Federal Constitution.

"This is the context of the ministry's involvement and the reason for my presence here today," he added.

Rais said there will always be those who are suspicious of the initiative or today's conference as being slanted towards a double-edged agenda or that such deliberations are the makings of a pressure group.

"To me, let them speculate. Truth and sincerity will prevail," he said, to a resounding applause from the 150-odd participants.

Rais also noted the daily reality where there were not many authorities that aggrieved parties could turn to "for solace especially when it comes to conflict of laws and conflict of religious overzeal".

In an attempt to allay fears that the proposal would see a smooth passage into becoming law, he said the government was not bound to accept everything that is proposed or submitted.

"But we must listen to the concerns raised and formulating a law on interfaith matters will not be easy and will be very time-consuming," he said, referring to the lengthy passage of the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) bill previously.

The interfaith commission that is modeled after Suhakam is proposed to have only conciliatory and consultative powers.

Muslim groups and individuals are boycotting the conference on grounds that such a body would take over the existing religious authority framework much to the detriment of Islam and Muslims.

'Don't be afraid'

On the absence of Muslim authorities at the conference, he told reporters: "I'm not sure why they are not represented here. But there must be an attempt to listen to others. At the end of the day, it is up to them."

The former de facto law minister said that Islam Hadhari itself promotes listening to and understanding of others.

"There is no reason to be afraid of ideas like this one," he added.

Rais said Malaysians must know the sharp edges protruding in a multi-religious and multi-racial society.

"We also know what the law can and cannot do. And we know how arduous it is to turn intent into policy and intent into law," he added.

He also noted that deliberations on the interfaith initiative cannot be construed as having any seditious tendency.

"Here we are not dealing with what could turn out to be seditious tendency for the sheer reason that we are trying to find a solution to a state of affairs that would make Malaysia a better place to live in."

He said the Sedition Act 1948 clearly follows those who deride the culture or religion of another Malaysian with a view to create cleavage and hatred in society.

"While believing that we are not here to express severe and bigoted subjective findings against another (religious belief), no one ought to say and claim that his religion is the best to the exclusion of others."

Citing the Federal Constitution as an example, Rais said Article 8 is gaping with the language of equality before the law, "yet some of us may be aghast to note that there are yet areas which ooze with practices that may equate inequality."

Members of the Bar Council human rights sub-committee, the conference organiser, will give the context of interfaith issues and the trajectory of the initiative followed by four sessions on the introduction, explanation and discussion of the draft bill.