The real problem with the debate on rights of non-Muslims under the Constitution proceeds from the view one takes of the Constitution as the supreme law of the country. The founding fathers of this nation realised the inherent problem of declaring Malaysia an Islamic state as in the case of Pakistan where the syariah law would then become the supreme law of the nation.

Dr Mahathir Mohamad declared Malaysia an Islamic country not with the object of altering the basic framework of this country but to make the point to PAS that Malaysia complied with the OIC requirement for membership and that there was not one model for what constitutes an Islamic state.

Muslims also must acknowledge that for Christians, Buddhists and Hindus, religion is also a way of life and if the apparatus of state were available to each of these religious groups, they would also want to impose their beliefs on others believing that it was their religious duty to do so and that in the eyes of God, this would be the right thing to do.

In a religiously diverse population, we have to respect the beliefs of others. Each adherent of a particular religious belief is convinced of the absolute truth of his belief and any attempt to force one belief on another will produce conflict. Only God can make clear what his requirements are for admission to Heaven and not man. As for me, I think that it is your behaviour that determines the issue, and I certainly think that God does not approve of killing or violence in his name.

We have a beautiful country and we have achieved much development because we have respected each other's culture and beliefs. We risk losing it all by pushing our beliefs onto others in the dangerous belief that it is our duty to do so.

There is also the confusion brought about by packaging rights and privileges designed to deal with a temporary situation with issues of political dominance and religion. As the experience of many nations today and in history has shown, nations can implode because religious conflict.

The government has a duty to be evenhanded in dealing with the pressures that build up occasionally. The minority cannot be expected to give in all the time.