Playing up highly-charged and sensitive issues such as proposing to amend constitutional provisions on Islam will most likely lead to emotional overreactions and manipulation by irresponsible quarters, said the Muslim Professionals Forum.

MPF was commenting on how some 500 protestors had disrupted a forum organised last Sunday by the Article 11 coalition to discuss the overlapping of jurisdiction between the civil and syariah courts.

"We recognise and reaffirm the right of any group or individual to express their opinions on the above matter in a public forum," said MPF founding director Dr Sheikh Johari Bux in a statement yesterday.

MPF also hoped "the authorities will investigate the incident and apply the law in a fair and just manner."

Hard lessons

However, Sheikh Johari warned that resurrecting controversial and sensitive issues that divide rather than unite will only obstruct the way forward for religious harmony in the country.

He said Muslims had 'learnt some hard lessons' over recent cases of conversion , such as that of Mount Everest climber M Moorthy.

The case had led to public debate on the role of the courts in religious issues.

Sheikh Johari said Muslims have also 'accepted with openness' the case of Nonya Tahir, where the syariah courts post-humously recognised her conversion.

He said this demonstrates that such cases can be dealt with justly and objectively by Malaysia's dual justice system.

"It is unfortunate that our present climate of relatively improved openness has been exploited to dwell on sensitive issues that are divisive to society," he added.