With all the talk on the enactment of the Trengganu Hudud Bill, I wonder why there is no discussion about the syariah courts and Islamic elements implemented by the Barisan Nasional government?

I recall several states, including Selangor, passing the law allowing teenagers above18 years to choose their own religion without their parents' consent though under the Federal Constitution, only adults above 21 years are allowed to do so. As far as I can remember, this law is still in effect and has been evoked several times for some non-Malay teenagers who decided to convert to Muslim before reaching adulthood. Shouldn't we also take this issue just as seriously as the topic of subjecting non-Muslims to hudud laws?

In many BN-controlled townships, especially in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur, the authorities build walls around stalls selling khinzir (pork). I have even seen stalls placed next to public toilets, intentionally or otherwise. However, this does not happen in Kelantan, which is supposed to be a more extremist PAS state.

No doubt PAS may try to turn Malaysia into an Islamic state. But it is doubtful if PAS will ever win enough seats to amend the constitution, let alone form its own two-third majority government! This will always be the reality unless Umno joins PAS. But if this is to happen, then the Islamic state opponents can only blame Umno for defecting.

Take the worst case scenario as Kim Quek speculated in Fear of PAS to justify BN's evil? , PAS will at most win 40 seats while Keadilan and DAP would add up to 47 seats.

So, BN is still the ruling government who has nevertheless lost the two-third majority. It is not difficult to imagine that BN will be more tolerable, open-minded and kind-hearted to the people in order to gain back the majority. So, what is there to fear? Obviously, we people will be the biggest winner of the day!

If Barisan Alternatif comes to power and there is only the slimmest chance of it happening, Keadilan and PRM would have won most of the mixed-constituencies that it lost in last election to BN component parties.

However, since PAS will only contest in rural areas where it has won about half the constituency it contested in last election, it is reasonable to conclude that PAS would have won about a total of 50 to 60 seats while Keadilan and PRM also would have won no less than 50-60 seats based on the last election's seats allocation.

Again, can we say that PAS will rule if BA wins as claimed by Tai Lo Chin in PAS to rule should BA wins ? Not forgetting that DAP would have also won about 40 seats too, if not more!

Therefore, I strongly feel that we have a better chance as Brand C suggested in BN vs PAS: a 'black and white' fallacy that we give a chance to Keadilan, PRM and DAP if we were to avoid a more corrupted and ineffective BN government!

As for PAS, it would be needed to play a check-and-balance role in the new government formed by BA and DAP. Life is not as simple as making a "choice between a corrupted and undemocratic BN and that of an honest but theocratic PAS". It is for the future generation that we work so hard everyday!

At least, we still can't say that Kelantan and Terengganu are Islamic states under PAS' ruling, yet we are all forced by Mahathir to accept that Malaysia is already an Islamic country. If we are so afraid of Islamic state, then say no to Dr M's Islamic country first!