Many PAS-bashing letters such as those written by Paul Warren, Disappointed, Ming Hoe and others seems to display gross ignorance regarding the basic teachings of Islam. I'm not saying that everybody should be forced to learn Islam, but if you are debating subjects directly related to Islamic teachings, you should know something on the subject first.

All too often, the comments made are solely based on media reports, which is very much one sided and misleading.

For example, Disappointed made reference to the four witnesses needed to prove a rape case and ridiculed PAS leaders on the matter. I believe if the writer attended the hudud seminar organised by PAS, or at least made some effort to seek clarification from the correct source, he would be ashamed to make such a remark. It is not dissimilar to what Zaid brought up on the issue of liwat (sodomy).

I do agree to a certain degree with MA who suggested that cross-religious discourse requires certain discipline. One rule I would like to suggest is to refrain arguing in public on matters you have no knowledge about. To me, some teachings of other religions are indeed ridiculous. My logic fails badly on most of them. But then, who am I to argue on things I don't know much about. Thus, I refrain myself from making insulting remarks on other religions.

Today, people are talking about the right of Christians to translate the bible into Malay. Some even talk about the right of prostitutes to offer their sexual services legally. Faithful Muslims are only asking the right to practice Islamic teachings in full in our daily lives. It is our duty to advise our fellow Muslims to adhere to Islamic teachings, and our leaders (ulama and politicians) bear bigger responsibilities to perform this duty as compared to ordinary rakyat like me. This is exactly what PAS leaders are trying to do. Their words should not be taken out of context to the extent of ridiculing one's faith.

If our Islamic practices do infringe the livelihood of other people in society, then, I think we have a legitimate subject to discuss, and to do it in a civilised manner. Certainly not in the way Warren had done to the Tok Guru. First, we must get the facts correct, and not depend entirely on media reports.

I remember, for instance, one letter in malaysiakini highlighting that the Terengganu state government had banned alcohol in state-owned hotels. The fact was wrong in the first place. The state-owned hotels only stopped selling alcohol, but non-Muslim guests are still allowed to bring in their own liquor. Of course, you can't force Muslims to sell alcohol to non-Muslims.

Cultural shows are still allowed, but the permit given exclude disco dancing. The Terengganu people would certainly not allow state-owned hotels from being turned into discos. This is the wish of the Terengganu people that the state government must respect.