It is ridiculous up to the point of being childish for PAS secretary-general Nasharuddin Mat Isa to shout down at MCA vice president Dr Fong Chan Onn for refusing to participate in a public debate on the Islamic state document.

I have gone through every page of the 53-page document and feel that it is unspecific and too theoretical. It is hazy and very academic piece of work. But the most negative aspect is that the whole document did not specify how PAS will implement the various aspects of its version of Islamic ideology.

On paper, it was made to appear that PAS is committed to justice and democracy. Based on its

past political behaviour, PAS leadership is known for its erratic policy actions. A check on news cuttings dating back from 1974 up till now, I am only reminded of my own bad memories of PAS rule - the most classic action was the tearing down of banners that local ethnic Chinese in Kelantan had put up for a Chinese New Year celebration.

Remarks by a PAS leader that beautiful women should not be working, and women cannot be candidates to the general election, are all too familiar.

Fong is not wrong in his considered views and remarks on extremism. What the PAS secretary-general fears is that Fong's remarks may ring some truth. Due to the vagueness of content in the Islamic state document, Malaysians are not in a position to test first and accept later. There are many things in life that are not reversible. Many, like me, are wise not to learn it the 'bitter way'.

If PAS intends to hoodwink Chinese Malaysians like me into accepting the PAS document, the answer is a clear 'no'. Like a malaysiakini reader once said: "I would rather live with a known devil than toy my future with an unknown one".

Do we want to march forward or retreat backwards? Under a moderate government, we have successfully checked all forms of extremism, and now terrorism in its most violent form. Let all Malaysians put this to a vote at the coming general elections.