The Article 11 public forum in Johor Baru today proceeded without any untoward incidents amid overwhelming police presence, quelling fears of a violent clash with anti-apostasy protesters.

While the protesters led by PAS were gathering at a discotheque carpark adjacent to Hotel New York about 100 meters away from Hotel Selesa, the forum venue, police were taking their positions around the venue as early as 7am.

There were mobile police vans, land rovers, patrol cars and personnel for traffic control.

Several riot police trucks and a police helicopter were already on stand-by in the compound of the Johor police contingent headquarters located across the road from the hotel.

About 300 protesters comprising PAS members and Muslim non-governmental organisations, all the way from Kuala Terengganu, Penang, Kota Baru and Alor Star, converged to show support.

Throughout the demonstration, they were calling for total elimination of any attempt to form an IFC (inter-faith council) or use constitutional provisions against Islam, and demanded for the Police Act to be used to halt proceedings.

Led by Johor PAS commissioner Dr Mahfodz Mohamed ( right ), who followed from the back, the group marched right up to the hotel steps chanting various slogans in Malay and Arabic, interspersed with doa and recital of Quranic verses.

200 cops present

At the hotel entrance which was tightly barricaded by uniformed and riot police, the group continued chanting and shouting slogans for almost two hours, which ran parallel with the forum proceedings upstairs.

Demonstrators carried printed slogans - "Pertahankan hak umat Islam" (Defend Muslims' rights), "Jangan Cabar Kami" (Don't dare us), "Jangan Ganggu Agama Kami" (Don't meddle with our religion), "Jangan Sentuh Sensitiviti Islam" (Don't touch on Islamic sensitivities) and "Hancurkan Gerakan Anti-Islam" (Crush Anti-Islam movement).

About 200 uniformed, plainclothes and light strike force (riot police) personnel were deployed, southern Johor Baru district police chief SAC Roslan Ahmad told reporters when met on location.

"I'm informing you that this is an illegal assembly but the discussion channel is still open. I'm giving you the first warning to disperse. I will also be discussing with the organisers," he said, greeted by jostling and loud jeering from the crowd.

"Cancel it! Cancel it! Allahu-akbar!" they chanted. "Down with the infidels! Don't meddle with Islam!"

Unperturbed by the hostile responses, Roslan continued: "Since I've given you the warning, it is wise for you to disperse immediately."

The first hour-and-a-half saw Roslan taking turns to negotiate with the protesters and the forum organisers, trying to appease the opposing sides and ease tensions.

A group of protest leaders including Mahfodz were escorted until the hall entrance where they continued to negotiate for the forum to be stopped.

There was a tense stand-off outside the hall where the forum was being held, prompting organisers to lock the doors and block the entrance. A large number of police personnel were also stationed outside and inside the hall.

By then, tensions were running high, so much so that when a protester started shouting in frustration, the police jumped on him and quickly dragged him away from the hall entrance.

Calling up leaders

At this juncture, about 11.07am, Roslan ordered all journalists to leave immediately, insisting that the situation may turn ugly if police had to act. They were escorted down by police officers.

Asked later on the status of the gathering, Roslan confirmed that it was illegal.

"It is definitely an illegal assembly. Of course, it is. A few leaders and personalities have been identified and we will call them up soon."

He said police reports have been lodged and they will start investigations tonight.

Asked why riot police did nothing, as opposed to immediate action by their Kuala Lumpur counterparts, after the first warning to disperse was ignored, Roslan said: "I was considering security measures. Anyway, they didn't do anything."

"That's why I was discussing with both parties to end it before 1pm as scheduled in the forum programme. There was no incident and it can be considered peaceful.

"In fact, both sides 'won' because they had equal time to do what they wanted."

Just before the forum started, coalition member Women's Aid Organisation executive director Ivy Josiah said she was happy with the police presence.

"It's a bizarre feeling to see this many personnel but I'm glad. The police said they will not stop the forum but will be around to monitor the situation."

Met earlier before the march, Mahfodz told malaysiakini all they wanted was for the forum organisers to call it off.

"They are interfering in Islam, which amounts to criminal action. We will conduct a peaceful march today. It won't happen like in Penang," he said, referring to an earlier leg of the forum.

"But if challenged, we can't just keep quiet. We don't want to see apostasy continuing before our very eyes in a country that proclaims Islam as the official religion.

"The fact remains that once you're in Islam, there's no leaving. Only the syariah court can handle such matters, so we consider this as meddling into our religious affairs."

Unhappy Muslims, he said, were not opposed to the freedom of other religions.

"But we must protect, defend and uphold our belief. There is no compromise on this. We're not bound by the freedom clause in the constitution. People can express their opinion but not interfere."

'Don't be emotional'

The Penang forum was aborted within 45 minutes following aggressive protests outside the Cititel hotel compounded by the police's failure to control the situation.

Protest leaders were heard repeatedly reminding the crowd, with the womenfolk standing at the back, to remain calm.

"Be careful not to get emotional. You must all keep your emotions under control. This (march) is to send a clear message from all Muslims in Johor on what we feel about the IFC (inter-faith council) and Article 11 (coalition)," said a leader through a loud-hailer.

Several vocal protesters, interspersed with chants and brief speeches of group leaders, loudly blamed the kafirs (infidels) for trying to destroy Islam.

The forum ended at 11.30am once lawyers Malik Imtiaz and Honey Tan, constitutional law expert Prof Dr Shad Saleem Faruqi and Women's Aid Organisation president Meera Samanther finished their talk and concluded the question-and-answer session.

The demonstrators dispersed about 20 minutes later.

The public forum 'Federal Constitution: Protection for All' was co-organised by the Article 11 coalition comprising 13 NGOs and the Bar Council.

Today marks the second protest to the Article 11 roadshow to raise awareness on citizens' constitutional rights, an effort detractors believe is actually a move to facilitate apostasy among Malays.