When DAP launched its 'No to 929 campaign' in the aftermath of Dr Mahathir Mohamad's 2001 unilateral declaration that Malaysia was an Islamic state, many derided the DAP and particularly its then secretary-general Lim Kit Siang.

The MCA, Gerakan and other BN parties, though ignored in the government's decision-making process, turned apologists for Mahathir. Their logic was simple: how could Malaysia be an Islamic state when non-Muslims could still consume pork, drink alcohol and gamble?

A simplistic explanation, sufficient to deceive everyone and, unfortunately, the people believed it. It's only semantics, many concurred and Kit Siang was ridiculed for 'seeing ghosts'.

Now, in light of the 'police tudung issue', Kit Siang's warning of the consequence of Mahathir's declaration has come home to roost. Now some would understand why Kit Siang warned Malaysians in 2001 of the perils of such a declaration. What did you do?