By Ahirudin Attan

NEARLY a week after last Saturday's Bar Council forum on Islam, which sparked a major Malay-Muslim protest, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR)'s Zulkifli Noordin - the "mob" leader - is still missing.

The police have quashed rumours that he is being held under the Internal Security Act. But his own party, which disapproves of his role and wants to issue a show-cause letter to the MP, who was one of Anwar Ibrahim's lawyers in the 1998 trials, does not know where he is.

Some Malaysians are nervous, given the recent "disappearances" of a private investigator linked to a statutory declaration on the Altantuya Shaariibuu murder and a Myanmar doctor who issued a medical report on the accuser in Anwar's sodomy case. But others call it a political gimmick.

"The detective, the doctor and Mr Zulkifli are all linked closely to PKR. The detective disappeared after his press conference at PKR's office. The doctor disappeared after exposing a confidential report that seemed to support Anwar. And Mr Zulkifli, of course, represents PKR, though the party now says it did not support Zulkifli's actions," said Mr Salahuddin Hisham, a veteran member of Umno.

Bar Council president Ambiga Sreenevasan also said the Bar Council forum, which was to discuss two high-profile court cases linked to converts, was a victim of politics. "We had explained that the forum was not about Islam- bashing. We had experts from two Islamic bodies to be on the panel to lead and guide the discussions. Because of the protest, they had to pull out at the last minute. I believe (the protesters) deliberately decided to politicise the forum."

Is Malaysia heading for a breakdown in inter-racial and religious relations? Responded Datuk Ambiga: "I've had time to reflect. Based on the statements issued by (the Islamic PAS party) and PKR, and the reaction of other Malay and Muslim groups, I'm convinced the 300 protesters led by Zulkifli were not screaming and shouting on behalf of Malays, Muslims or Malaysians in general."

Datuk Ambiga said the Bar Council will take on board the criticisms made of the forum, but dismissed a suggestion that future forums be closed-door events: "We've had closed-door discussions before, and the problem is that what we decided there has remained behind closed doors till today. We must move on."

Another forum like that may not happen so soon, though. Minister-in-charge of religious affairs Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the government will closely monitor developments. He said: "There seems to be a hidden agenda to politicise issues we regard as sensitive. The aim, it would seem, is to create tension among the races and people of different faiths."

Most Malaysians would agree with this official view. But given the looming Permatang Pauh by-election, pitting Anwar against the ruling coalition, a few observers suggested Mr Zulkifli and the "mob" may have been the ones trapped by the forum, not the other way round. Veteran politician Wee Choo Keong said the ruling coalition is using the "violent" protest - and an ongoing outcry against a PKR suggestion that a university meant for bumiputeras and Malays be opened to non-bumis - against Anwar.

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