An attempt to discuss ways of protecting Malaysia's constitution in the light of recent conflicts between secular law and the Islamic Shariah system, on Sunday, was dramatically disrupted by a crowd of 200 demonstrators.

The forum 'Federal Constitution: Protection for All' had been organised by the social reform group Aliran in collaboration with Article 11 the name for a coalition of 13 civil society groups.

But events outside the forum revealed the depth of emotions stirred over the issue in Malaysia's plural society which is dominated by Muslim Malays who form 60 percent of the 25 million population. Ethnic Chinese and Indians, descended from immigrants, who mostly follow Buddhism, Christianity or Hinduism, constitute the rest.