by Foo Yee Ping

NEW YORK: Malaysia has pledged to be at the forefront of an international effort to fight "Islamophobia".

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim said that Malaysia had agreed to work with the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) to play a more positive role in the effort.

To counter the "illogical" portrayals of Islam, he said an international forum would be held early next year in the United States to be attended by the heads of government, scholars and representatives from organisations linked with religious tolerance.

Briefing Malaysian journalists here on Wednesday of his meeting with OIC secretary-general Ekmeleddin Ihsa-noglu, Dr Rais said there should be a more accurate portrayal of the religion.

The minister, who is leading Malaysia's delegation to the United Nations General Assembly here, said the OIC had expressed the need for Malaysia's involvement in the effort.

'If we, as a member nation of the OIC, do not give our co-operation, then we would be failing as a member of the OIC,' he added.

Dr Rais said the United States was picked to host the forum because of "the diverse views of religions here".

'This is also where Sept 11 took place,' he said, referring to the terrorist attacks here in 2001.

He also hoped that the forum would open a new window to better understanding of civilisation, adding that he would present a report to the Cabinet on the plans for the forum.