Letter writer Ariff Yusof may be a PAS and PUM (Malaysian Muslim Scholars Association) supporter, or may be just an anti-PAS agent provocateur from Umno or its intellectual mercenaries. We never will know.

Indeed, as Sharaad Kuttan has pointed out, Ariff is highly intolerant. But, for Sharaad to accuse him or even her as a 'fascist' is also wrong.

Fascism is a secular and atheist ideology that attempts to destroy positive religious values, and indoctrinate its followers to worship the state, government, ruling party and its paramount leader. Fascism, in its proper sense, means extreme secularism and fanatical nationalism/communalism in combination.

Before the World War II in Europe, facism was popular among the de-cultured and de-classed petit bourgeoisie who were facing an identity crisis, couldnt cope with modernisation and modernity, and still refused to acknowledge God.

Fascism is thus not synonymous with intolerance or the tendency to use threat. It is a particular and specific ideology with secularism as one of its major ideational elements. However, because of its suppression of religious values, fascism can be considered as a form of secular intolerance. Or, fascism is a form of secular 'religion' that replaces God with the state, party and leaders in the search for psychological certainty and a sense of permanence.

Thus understood, the real threat by Umno Youth to raze the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall to the ground was an expression of fascism. Similarly, the threat delivered by Umno's Selangor Menteri Besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo in response to Suqiu to defend 'Malay dignity' at all cost, including bloodshed, can also be classified as fascism.