Recently, 50 NGOs and 220 individuals submitted a memorandum to the government demanding that the power to enforce Islamic law be stripped from state governments. The main reason given by them was that 'morality cannot be legislated'.

As a Muslim, I am appalled by their memo as I consider it to exhibit a total intolerance of Islam by certain quarters of the society. What are considered as matters of morality for this group are seen as either misdemeanours or felonies by Islam.

There is certainly a difference of opinion between Islam and the secular liberalism (which I assume to be the ideology behind the memo).

For instance, adultery may be considered a matter of morals by some quarters but Islam views it as a felony. Islam expects the state to arrest those who commit adultery and via due process of the law, punish them.

What gives these 50 NGOs and 220 individuals the right to amend the teachings of Islam? Furthermore, why should the view of these NGOs be more superior then that of Islam?

Shouldn't we instead learn to respect each other's view? Why can't we all live in peace and harmony?.

I feel that the group's memo is an act to impose foreign ideology upon Muslims in Malaysia apart form forcing the latter to accept their views for the sake of political correctness. Their level of intolerance is appalling.

I personally do not wish to see Western social values (along with their hypocrisy) being absorbed into our culture. For instance, in America, if a man commits adultery, the state cannot touch him.

But the moment he drives above 65mph on an interstate highway, he immediately gets a ticket. Such contradictory values are simply abominable.