After two letters by Syed Alwi Ahmad, I have to put o­n record that he does not speak o­n my behalf. As a Malay-Muslim Malaysian, I can o­nly feel sorry for fellow citizens who choose to follow the same line of thinking as alleged by the writer.

I laughed at the suggestion that Umno has generously chosen to share political power with non-Muslim parties in the BN.

With the prospect of the next general election looming, Syed Alwi has started early to ensure the 'tested and proven' tactic of making a bogeyman out of PAS - to coerce reluctant votes for BN from the 'terrified' Chinese electorates - is put to good use again.

Except, I must point out, the writer seemed to have been amazingly successful not o­nly in discrediting PAS, but misrepresenting Islam altogether. As if the image problem currently faced by Muslims the world over is not bad enough!

According to Syed Alwi, it is basic teaching that o­nly a Muslim can lead a Muslim. By extension, is it basic Islamic teaching too that a despotic, corrupt and incompetent regime is preferred to lead our beloved country to ruins because they are Muslims? Or quite simply, a bad Muslim leader is better than a good non-Muslim?

Perhaps Syed Alwi would care to clarify what exactly was meant when he said "Asean Muslims will not tolerate anything less".

As unlikely as this would be the case, let's put his theory through this simple test. So what if Malaysians of all races decide through a due process of democracy to elect a capable and morally upright non-Muslim patriot as prime minister? Will Indonesia invade?

I just can't help wondering, who actually needs some serious soul searching now?