KUALA LUMPUR, April 23 — Faith organisations should convene regularly instead of meeting only when religious conflicts arise, a group said today.

Dr Suresh Kumar, coordinator of Friendship Group for Inter-religious Service in Malaysia, pointed out that his group’s members, which comprise both Muslims and non-Muslims, play futsal and participate in the orchestra together, and are scheduled to show a play next month about conflicts in housing areas.

“Why should we meet only for religious conflict?” Suresh told reporters after an interfaith talk at the Asean Peoples’ Forum here today.

“Religious groups should not just come together when conflict comes, but come together even when there’s no conflict, to have more joy of each other’s company,” he said.

Suresh also said the recent protest against a church in Taman Medan, Petaling Jaya, that had put up a cross on its facade, was likely sparked by the cramped living conditions in the housing area.

“Quite a lot of these flashes of violence are triggered by circumstances. Eighty per cent of people actually want to be happy and loving,” he said.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has announced an investigation on the demonstration that had forced the church to later remove the Christian religious symbol.