THE HAGUE, 14/01/04 - The Lower House considers that the Muslims and Government Contact Body (CMO) is not sufficiently representative of the Islamic community in the Netherlands. Only the seven most important umbrella organisations of Sunni Muslims are affiliated to CMO.

CMO, to be officially established today, is in the present form too "one-sided a club," said Labour (PvdA) MP Dijsselbloem yesterday. "We must continue to strive for representatives of all movements." His Christian democratic (CDA) colleague Sterk also considers that the body must cover "the entire spectrum of the Muslim community."

Dijsselbloem had earlier raised questions in parliament about the CMO with Integration Minister Rita Verdonk, but is not satisfied with her answers. The MP considers the fact that the sitting, Sunni members decide what other organisations to admit a bad business. Sterk also regrets that non-Sunnis are not represented in the CMO, which is to function as official consultation partner to the government.