Civil society groups and political parties are finally speaking up against the Muslim Scholars Association of Malaysia (PUM) for seeking action against five writers for allegedly denigrating Islam.

DAP head honcho Lim Kit Siang today called for an inter-religious conference to establish a national consensus on vibrant inter-religious and inter-civilisational dialogue and debate that could become a hallmark of a democratic, tolerant and progressive Malaysia.

He said the controversy over PUMs recent memorandum to the Conference of Rulers calling for action against the writers has far-reaching implications for democracy, human rights and pluralism in Malaysia.

In a country where the world's greatest religions find a common home, all Malaysians must be imbued with the greatest respect and sensitivity towards each other's religion, and denigration of any religion must be regarded as an assault on our common national heritage, he said in a press statement.

But what is most disturbing about the controversy surrounding the PUM memorandum is the claim to immunity from fair comment and criticism which are equated with vilification of Islam or Islamophobia, which attacks the very foundations of a democratic, tolerant and plural Malaysia, he added.

Serious accusation

Earlier this month, PUM and seven other Islamic organisations submitted a letter to the Conference of Rulers, claiming that Sisters in Islam executive director Zainah Anwar, malaysiakini and New Straits Times columnist Dr Farish A Noor, The Sun columnist Akbar Ali, academic Kassim Ahmad, lawyer Malik Imtiaz Sarwar and University Malaya lecturer Dr Patricia Martinez has disparaged Islam in their writings.

Parti Rakyat Malaysia president Dr Syed Husin Ali and PAS president Fadzil Noor have also called upon PUM to state clearly its allegations against the writers as the latters accusations were very general and serious.

Penang-based social reform movement, Aliran, has also publicly defended the writers democratic right to freedom of expression.

It is learnt that the affected writers held a meeting recently to discuss forms of dealing with the PUM accusation. The writers had issued invitations to several other academics and professionals and also Umno members such as the deputy prime ministers special assistant Khairy Jamaluddin.

Joint statement

Civil society groups and non-Muslim based political parties have been rapped through the media for failing to take up the cause of the five writers and defend their right to freedom of speech and expression.

Tomorrow, the National Human Rights Society (Hakam) will hold a press conference in Kuala Lumpur to address PUMs recent attacks on the writers and other human rights activists.

A joint statement endorsed by several civil society organistaions and prominent individuals will be issued at the press conference to be chaired by Hakam chairperson and lawyer Raja Aziz Addruse.