Norman Fernandez, of the letter Nation's secularism being undermined is right. In the past, I would have held Malaysia up as an example of a multi-religious society where Muslims, Buddhists, Christians, Hindus and those of other religious persuasions lived to together with harmony with mutual respect for each other.

Increasingly, that has begun to change. Many Muslims today, and that includes close friends of mine, have begun to take a very negative view of other religions. They are convinced that only Muslims will go to heaven and therefore only Muslims are worthy of respect.

This explains why an entire nation can go into a paroxysm over a one dead Hindu/Muslim retired corporal who passed away. And this is why the conversion of one Muslim to Christianity results in a nationwide hysteria.

And this is why it takes an agonizing 20 years to build a Christian church in Shah Alam the approval for which requires the church not to look like a church so that Muslim sensibilities will not be offended.

It is ironic. Muslims in Western countries enjoy all the benefits of democracy and secularism. Minority rights are protected. Christian Britain allowed Muslims to build a mosque in Regent's Park.

But here the argument is increasingly being taken that all other faiths must be subordinate to Islam. Surely religion must be about justice, truth, fairness, love and compassion. Where is the recent evidence of that?

In this country the overriding value now appears to be making money big money in the fastest time possible. Our leaders must do some serious thinking about where we want to go as a nation. And that must happen quickly. The narrow-minded bigots appear to be occupying the center ground.