In response to Dr Syed Ahmad Alwi , I would like to ask him what actually determines whether Malaysia is a Muslim country. Has it got to do with Islam being the national religion of Malaysia?

Or do we determine our national religious identity according to the religious practises of its people, the 'rakyat'? He considers it an 'undeniable fact', but I can assure him that it is a much debated issue among fellow Malaysians.

If you tell visiting tourists that Malaysia is a Muslim country, they will be surprised as there is no hard evidence in proclaiming Malaysia an Islamic state (other than Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's speeches).

Sure, the ethnic majority, the Malays, practice Islam as a religion, but everyone else has the freedom to practise their own faith, as provided by the constitution. There are many who practise secularism, defined by Merriam-Webster as 'indifference, rejection or exclusion of religion and religious considerations'. Malaysia is no longer the Muslim state that Tanah Melayu o­nce was.

National unity cannot be achieved by simply announcing Malaysia a Muslim state in the hopes of unifying Muslims under o­ne banner. This move will o­nly divide the (already racially polarised) people of Malaysia because it is bold to suggest that Malaysians practising other religions are unimportant to the creation of a united Malaysia.

Dr Syed Alwi's comment that "this is no exaggeration - Asean Muslims will not tolerate anything less...Consequently those who are not comfortable with Malaysia's Muslim character ought to do some serious soul searching," o­nly shows the intolerance of Dr Syed Alwi in considering that Malaysians may disagree with us being a Muslim country.

Being the majority race does not give you the right to dictate the country's leaders, even more the religious beliefs. Dr Syed Alwi seems to think ethnic minorities in Malaysia live by the grace of the bumiputeras and the Muslims of this country.

Let me remind him that 'power-sharing' system was not founded by our forefathers as a charity case to non-Muslim parties. It was meant to prove that Malaysians from different ethnic backgrounds and beliefs were willing to compromise for the good of the country. It is undeniable that Umno would not be as strong as today had the other component parties not given their full support during each election.

Crediting Malaysia's political stability to our Muslim identity is a foolish idea. Political stability can o­nly be achieved when there is true 'power-sharing' - racial and religious discrimination cast aside.

What Malaysia need is an identity that every Malaysian is able to adopt regardless of their ethnicity, religious belief and culture. It is exactly the diversity of culture, religion and race that makes our nation unique, and that all Malaysians are proud of.

Perhaps, it is Dr Syed Alwi who needs to do some soul searching and re-think his backward and old-fashioned perception o­n how the country should be shaped.