Under-fire PAS Youth leader Salahuddin Ayub, who led the Islamic party's protesters against a Bar Council-organised forum on conversion last Saturday, said he never called for the use of ISA against the council members.

While he had led his group of demonstrators, the Kubang Kerian MP denied that he had called for Bar Council chief Ambiga Sreenevasan's arrest under the Internal Security Act.

pas chinese liaison rep 280607 salahuddin ayub The PAS leader was quoted in a local daily as being in favour of the Act being used against the Bar Council and it's leaders.

"If the government thinks there has been any wrongdoing (by the Bar Council), there are other ways to arrest the problem," Salahuddin clarified today.

"But I'm not in favour of using the ISA against anyone," he reiterated.

Salahuddin also claimed that he was wronged in the portrayal of his role last Saturday. He said he was not there to disrupt the proceedings and merely there to ensure that "matters did not go out of hand".

"When I realised that other Muslims would be attending the forum, including PAS and other Islamic NGOs, I joined in.

"However, my attendance was to ensure that PAS supporters did not become unruly and cause any problems," he added.

Forum title not apt

Salahuddin was nevertheless apprehensive of the forum's title and said it was misleading and had caused confusion to the public.

"They should have worded it better instead of calling it ‘Conversion to Islam'," said Salahuddin.

convertion forum protest 090807 angry man He also suggested that future similar forums should be held behind closed doors.

"I appreciate intellectual discussions but they should not make it public. They should also invite more PAS, muftis and other Islamic scholars."

Another Pakatan Rakyat coalition MP, Zulkifli Noordin, who was among the key players in the demonstration, has since gone missing.

Family, friends and fellow parliamentarians from PKR have also failed to contact him since then.

However, the police have denied that the Bandar Baru Kulim MP was detained for his role in last Saturday's protest.

PKR deputy leader Syed Husin Ali had ticked him off for his role in the demonstration.

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