In response to my previous letter Keadilan's biggest blunder in the making , Michael's letter, What's driving Muslims into PAS' fold , seems to show he has missed the forest for the trees. Unfortunately, it is quite a common line of thinking among the opposition idealists who want the Barisan Nasional out of power, whatever the cost may be.

In reply to the points raised by Michael, I agree that a society, especially one that is multicultural, should be based on the principle of reciprocity, and that we should not impose our values upon another culture. Fair enough.

But do all opposition idealists out there really think that PAS will leave the non-Muslims alone and exempt them from hudud once it takes over the government? Do you really doubt that PAS' version of an Islamic way of life will not be imposed upon the non-Muslims of Malaysia?

Michael is naive to think that PAS' policies will be confined to only the Muslim community, and it is quite typical of a very negative attitude of "If it doesn't affect me, why should I care?" Perhaps when facilities like spas, gymnasiums, public swimming pools and entertainment outlets like theatres, nightclubs, bars (yes, most Malaysians know how to have fun responsibly) are shut down, people like Michael would suddenly awaken from their idealistic bliss.

I wonder where Michael got the assumption that I am selectively biased against the death penalty as prescribed by PAS while in support of the death penalty practised by other systems in other forms. The death penalty, in whichever form it takes, is not a deterrent to crime. It hasn't worked, and will never work and it does not have my support.

I find it quite laughable that Michael brings up procedural justice as prescribed by PAS' version of hudud and qisas with public trials and credible witnesses. Does Michael have any evidence of justice meted out by PAS under this system?

Sceptics against a theocratic system of justice and governance have ample evidence and documentation against such a system since time immemorial, because ultimately, bad laws will be put in place by self-serving holy men who will then turn around and proclaim that this is divine law and is not open to debate, death to all who protest.

And speaking of credible witnesses, where is Michael's opinion on the four Muslim male witnesses required to be produced by a victim of a rape, as prescribed by PAS? His silence on that matter is truly deafening.

Such a law by PAS is more likely than not the first of many more absurd laws to come. Has Michael even pondered on the larger picture of the economy and foreign relations under a government ruled by PAS? A government headed by PAS will frequently succumb to irrational behavior that will damage the country's international reputation and trade relations.

Does anyone remember that incident last year when certain leaders in PAS called for a jihad against America? Such behavior in the long run, and if undertaken by a legitimate government of Malaysia, will scare tourists away, cause investors to lose confidence (sending our economy down the drain) and will generally put us in a very unfavourable position on the global stage.

Sure, I agree that the Barisan Nasional is far from perfect. Honestly, I would rather see them removed as the government in the next election. But at what cost? Replacing a secular autocratic system with another autocratic system (qualitatively speaking), the only difference being the latter is camouflaged with religion?

If Michael claims that the current abuse of the secular government and judicial system is causing the surge in support for PAS, we must ask what has Keadilan and the rest of the opposition parties been doing in formulating plans and reforms (other than lip service and mass gatherings)? Where is the substance of these so-called multicultural, justice-centered parties?

What kind of solid plans have they come up with and informed the public about? What kind of economic plan do they have should they come into power? How are they going to keep the country moving and afloat in the era of globalisation?

If there's one thing the opposition front has succeeded in doing over the past year, it is constantly bickering among themselves and within themselves, while PAS hurriedly bulldozed its hudud bills into laws without sufficient consultation of its allies and in the face of opposition from various quarters. And after the fact, PAS leader Abdul Hadi Awang makes his rounds with the non-Muslims telling them where they fit into his party's version of an Islamic state.

So how much different is PAS' practice from what the opposition constantly accuses Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad of doing? Doesn't Mahathir's government bulldoze bills through Parliament without consultation nor providing ample time for debate as well?

Ultimately, for all the opinions fielded from either side of this debate, only one thing is certain: Malaysia is a multicultural and multireligious nation. It has been such since the nation came to be in 1957,and even for many decades before that.

This country was also built on the blood, sweat and tears of the approximately 40 percent of non-Muslim Malaysians in cooperation with their Muslim Malaysian brothers and sisters. Therefore this 40 percent of Malaysians cannot be forcibly subject to religious laws and a system of governance that is not in line with their beliefs and culture.

Regardless of subjective opinions on whether secularism or a theocracy is good or bad, an Islamic state will not work in multicultural Malaysia. Period.

And until Keadilan makes a principled stand on this matter without beating around the bush, gets out from under PAS' shadow and starts working with the DAP and PRM in giving us a better political alternative that is anchored by our Federal Constitution and the cultural realities of Malaysia, we will see the Barisan Nasional being returned to power every half a decade.