I wish to comment on the Malaysiakini letter, Islamic state still a deal breaker for opposition by LJ.

Obviously, the writer seems to feel that Umno's version of an Islamic state is more palatable than PAS' version of an Islamic state. Or possibly, he wants neither and wants to throw Islam totally out of the political equation. That will never happen because Islam is a political religion (inseparable from the state) and Muslims see their religion as their saviour and their salvation.

The key here is for the opposition to allow the Muslim population to embrace their religion while ensuring that the rights of non-Muslims are not trampled upon. There are two elements: how Muslims are to be treated and how non-Muslims will be treated. For the Muslims, the opposition must clarify what constitutes an Islamic state and provide a clear and unequivocal rejection of fanatical and false teachings.

These false teachings must be identified by the opposition in their manifesto to ensure clarity. An example of a false and misguided form of Islam that the opposition must vehemently reject is mistreatment of women.

Recently in Saudi Arabia, a woman who was gang-raped was then sentenced to six months' jail and 200 lashes for compromising herself by being in the company of a male acquaintance, meaning that she is to be blamed for getting herself raped. Also, women in Saudi Arabia are not allowed to vote, drive or even travel without a male escort, usually a husband or brother. They are confined to their homes like chattel.

The opposition must educate voters that this is not Islam. In fact, this practice is what Muslims term as 'Jahiliyah-ism'. Jahiliyah was a period in history when the practices adopted by Arab bedouins were so vile and sadistic that Muslims believe God sent Muhammad to cleanse and purge them off the face of the earth.

Of course, there is the worry now that 'Jahiliyah-ism' is infiltrating its way back into Islam, blending in and contaminating Islam. PAS has to reassure Muslim voters that it will not implement 'Jahiliyah-ism' because recently we have seen that even Umno is starting to adopt some of these Jahiliyah practices such as confiscating babies from their mothers, denying widows their due inheritances and allowing husbands to kick their wives out on the streets. Mistreatment of women was common during the Jahiliyah times.

The second element that the opposition needs to clarify is how non-Muslims ought to be treated. The opposition needs to reassure voters that the syariah law will at no time be used on a non-Muslim. Non-Muslim beliefs must be respected at all times, their places of worship protected and most important of all, their respective leaders must have actual influence in all of the affairs of the people they represent.

They must not be mere puppets or token figureheads as what has become of the Malay leaders in Singapore who supported the ban on head scarves in schools contravening the wishes of their own people, or like the MIC in Malaysia not helping the Indian estate workers get minimum wage.

In conclusion, the opposition has a lot of hard work to convince voters that their brand of Islam would bring about a better government administration.