The Muslim Inter-Organizational Meeting (MIOM), an umbrella organization of at least 70 groups, Wednesday urged the newly created National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) led by Secretary Bai Omera D. Dianalan Lucman to hit the ground running, practice transparency and accountability.

President Arroyo appointed the NCMF officials last March 8, with Lucman also being named as head of office with a full Cabinet rank.

Ali Reza Kunting, head of the MIOM Secretariat, relayed to the Manila Bulletin the sentiments and hope of the partner organizations and leaders of the MIOM, which has been deeply involved and, in many times, at the forefront in the advocacy and promotion of Muslim concerns, welfare, and participation in nation-building.

"The MIOM congratulates the nine commissioners whom President Arroyo appointed on March 8. We appeal to them to hit the ground running on their first day in office.

They should practice and be model of transparency and accountability," said Kunting.

He said the unsolicited advice is based on a Hadith of the Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Allaihi Wassalam:

'Islam is giving advice for Allah and His Prophet for the sake of all the Muslims."

The NCMF law has many features that, if faithfully adhered with, will redound to the benefit of the estimated 5 to 10 million Philippine Muslims, he added.

"We in the MIOM will do our responsibility as believers to watch and monitor the NCMF. We will be vigilant because if the NCMF fails, then national officials may not trust Moro leaders again," Kunting said.

NCMF ought to be a model in handling and using public funds, he said.

Kunting said NCMF embraces local, national and even international applications, thus, its big significance.

MIOM led in pushing in Congress the enactment of major laws such as Republic Act No. 9997 (NCMF act), Republic Act No. 9849 (Eid'l Adha national holiday)), Republic Act No. 9177 (Eid'l Fitr national holiday), and other bills promoting national national unity and recognizing the country's Islamic heritage.

The controversy on the President's alleged "midnight appointments" has not spared the NCMF.

But NCMF Commissioner Atty. Edilwasif Baddiri defended their appointments.