I'm a foreign Muslim student in Malaysia pursuing a medical degree. Despite my hectic schedule and demanding school work, I can't afford to miss malaysiakini and 'Malaysia Today' on daily basis. In fact, for many non-Malaysians both inside and outside Malaysia, the two websites probably remain the only avenues for constructive news and critical analysis of multifarious issues that affect this nation.

Many non-Malaysians who come from countries that were and are afflicted by unequaled corruption, political instabilities and racial and sectarian tensions, admire a lot this country and its hospitable denizens. Many of us ask themselves how Malaysians arrived at such equation that sustained them with no major agitation that posed danger to the very fabric of the nation despite hiccups here and there.

However, my hopes were shattered as I watched the unfolding scenario in Ijok where ruling party members unleashed terror on their opponents with the government pouring in unparalleled amount of money. It is interesting that the Selangor state government could afford to hold back such whopping money only for it to consume in Ijok within nine days.

The world is watching and many non-Malaysians who follow the local scene remain flabbergasted at such flagrant vote buying that breaches all known considerations. In fact, it was a reader from the United Kingdom who alerted me about the forthcoming Ijok by election as I was busy with school work.

While I'm not entitled to interfere in the local politics of this nation, of which even Malaysian university students are not allowed, I must say the runaway violence, the chest thumping, politics of backstabbing and smearing, politics of character assassination and caprice and vote buying not only harm the interests of this nation but also bring unequaled shame to Muslims who are considered violence-prone marauding hordes who have little regard to order and the rule of law.

To be honest in my assessment, Islam doesn't allow us some of the actions that we have seen being perpetuated in Ijok by the ruling party. I hope Islam Hadhari will be disseminated faster, though non-Malaysians have observed apathy towards it from all Malaysians who now consider it a political tool.