My aspirations are different from those expressed by letter writer Khairull Anuar Jamlus in ' Not planning to adopt a Western liberal lifestyle ':

-A prosperous nation, where the divide between rich and poor is narrower.

-A just nation, where justice and rule of law are supreme and inviolate.

-A non-corrupt nation, where corruption is not only severely dealt with by law, but is seen as disgusting and unpalatable by the rakyat .

-An open nation, where there is freedom of information and the rakyat has a right, if not a duty, to scrutinise government dealings.

-A liberal nation, where personal choices are left alone, provided that one does not harm others. This means no compulsion to fulfill any of the religious obligations written by the state, only the obligations of one's own conscience. How I choose to dress should also not be dictated by the state - as long as it is within norms of reasonable decency (as an aside, Malay kampung ladies of the 1960's and early 1970's would have failed PAS' guidelines.).

I should be free to partake in scientifically documented physical and mental health benefits of alcohol should I chose to, regardless of affiliation. It is a country where religion is respected, but not above the personal freedom to interpret one's religion as one wishes - a Sikh may prefer not to wear a turban, and a Jew may not need to observe the Sabbath, and where even a person who proclaims themselves as a Muslim may choose to have a glass of wine.

I could of course go on, but what I hope for is Liberalism, not necessarily 'Western liberalism'.