Reading Edmund Burke Fan's letter to the editor, 'Don't expect religious equality', I think the writer is terribly mistaken in his/her perceptions.

First, only mosques and suraus in Malaysia are built by the government. In the West, churches are built not by governments but by the parishioners. Parishioners collectively donate money so that a church can be built in their area. Sometimes they even have to collect money to buy the land.

But in Malaysia, the land and building are provided for by the government. That is why there are dilapidated mosques in India and China. Worshippers are too poor to contribute. If Malaysian mosques were built by the worshippers, I'm sure there would be areas where mosques are dilapidated too.

Are there dilapidated Chinese and Hindu temples in Malaysia? Of course, but unless Edmund Burke Fan has not been to the rural areas in Malaysia, this won't be visible. The reason is obvious: Chinese and Hindu worshippers are too poor to maintain their temples. Has the government built any temples or churches for these people? Have land been provided?

There has not been many new churches nor temples in Malaysia, not even in Barisan Nasional strongholds like Selangor, Penang and Johor. And all those silly MCA and Gerakan politicians attack PAS for neglect in Kelantan. They should be looking at their own backyards.

Religious freedom is not religious equality. It is just that no one has gone to court to challenge the government for what is rightfully theirs.