KUALA LUMPUR: Police have completed investigations into Sunday's (May 14, 2006) protest by 500 people in Penang against a forum on the conflict between the civil and syariah laws.

Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Musa Hassan said police were discussing the next proposed move with the Attorney-General's Chambers.

"We have investigated the matter. From the investigations, we have identified the parties involved," he told reporters after delivering a working paper entitled "Islam and War on Terrorism" at the Meeting of International Experts on Human Rights in Islam here yesterday.

Musa declined to comment further, Bernama reported.

Some 500 protesters had staged a peaceful demonstration outside the Cititel Hotel against the forum entitled "Federal Constitution: Protecting All" organised by Aliran and a 13-member non-governmental organisation grouping known as "Article 11" to discuss Article 121 of the Federal Constitution.

The demonstration organised by the Anti-Inter Faith Commission - known by the Malay acronym "Badai" Ð began at about 8.30am and ended two hours later.

The organisers said the forum was to discuss cases concerning the overlapping of jurisdiction between the civil and syariah courts as seen after the deaths of Nyonya Tahir and Everest climber M. Moorthy or his Islamic name, Muhammad Abdullah, and the children's custody case of S. Shamala.

In Penang, police had questioned two of the "ring leaders" of the demonstration on Wednesday and Thursday.

North East OCPD ACP Hamzah Md Jamil declined to name the two people who were interviewed.

Penang CPO DCP Datuk Christopher Wan Soo Kee had on Tuesday said police had a video recording of the entire incident and had identified the "ring leaders".

The case has been classified as unlawful assembly under Section 27 (5A) of the Police Act.

Among those who were instrumental in the demonstration included Sahabat Alam Malaysia's Mohd Azmi Abdul Hamid who participated in the demonstration as president of Teras, a Malay empowerment movement.

Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) president SM Mohd Idris declined comment on the incident, saying he will leave it to police to investigate.

He said Azmi's involvement did not reflect CAP or SAM's stand on the matter.

Azmi was quoted saying he had participated in the demonstration "to express the dissatisfaction of serious Muslims and end the discussion which he feels is a threat to the Islamic way of life".

In the Dewan Rakyat, some senators joined in criticising the police for allowing a mob of protestors to abruptly end the Article 11 forum.

Datuk Dr Chin Fook Weng said police should have done more to protect those attending the forum.

"It is their job up to uphold the rule of law. But it appears that mob rule prevailed during the incident. I feel sad that the police appeared to have sided with the protesters," he said.

To a question from Datuk Abdul Rashid Ngah, Dr Chin said the police "sided with the wrong group".

"If I speak in the House on Article 11 and there is a group protesting outside, it is the police's job to deal with the protestors and let me speak, instead of coming here and stopping me," he said, adding any action to stop him from speaking undermined the rule of law.

Datuk Omar Faudzar then asked whether the rule of law should be placed above peace and security.

Chin replied that since it was the police who issued the permit for the forum, it was their duty to ensure it was held peacefully.

Chiam Yong Tee supported Chin's argument.

Tay Puay Chuan said after the police issued the permit, they should have ensured the forum went ahead smoothly.

• Cops to wrap up probe on illegal demo next week