Siti Hajar Ayob probably had good intentions in her letter Respect each belief system's view but she clearly displayed a lack of understanding of basic Hindu tenets and her support of Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nazri Abdul Aziz's call for non-Muslims to stop commenting on Islam is disturbing.

Whilst I agree that laws such as the Islamic Family Law should be thoroughly reviewed and debated by people well-versed in the faith concerned, it is inevitable in a multiracial and multi-religious country like ours that certain provisions of Islamic law, when applied and enforced, infringe on the personal space of non-Muslims.

For instance, the recent M Moorthy saga brought to the fore the right of audience of non-Muslims in a Syariah court. In this regard, it is certainly unjust to restrict participation and views of non-Muslims in matters directly affecting them.

It would however be gratifying if Muslim groups like Sisters in Islam and other NGOs take the lead (as I think they have) in debating laws like the IFL for in a high-strung multiracial country like ours, 'sensitive' matters like religion are best left to adherents of their respective faiths to thrash out.

Nazri effectively issued a general threat to non-Muslims to not incite Muslims. He was not specifically speaking about the IFL issue. Inciting matters of race and religion is prima facie seditious in our country.

It is timely for politicians to understand that the law on sedition is not to be used only in instances when the majority race is affected. When the Jerai MP Badruddin Amiruldin used a derogatory word in Parliament to refer to Indians and added insult to injury following protests by DAP MPs by stating that it is a commonly used word and is acceptable in the northern states, he was nothing short of inciting.

I would love to see the day when characters like him, an MP from the ruling multi-racial BN party, is censured by no less a person than Nazri for incitement.