YOURSAY 'Politics and religion don't mix well. Religion is between the believer and God. Politics is between the voters and the government.'

Asri: Rather go secular if politics exploits religion

Foreigner: A genuine secular state is better than a pseudo-Islamic state. Conversely, a genuine Islamic state is better than a pseudo secular state. I guess this is what former Perlis mufti Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin implies.

Mohd: Foreigner, I believe you got what Asri is trying to say. I also believe he is trying to hint to PM Najib Razak to stop this religious acting for the last few weeks, as it is really becoming a sick joke and puts Islam in a bad light.

Odin: Plain common sense tells us that politics must be separate from religion, particularly in a multi-religious country like Malaysia. It is improper to impose the doctrines of a particular religion on the followers of other religions.

As well, we cannot rely on religious texts to formulate laws, rules and regulations, for the simple reason that such texts can be interpreted in different ways by different people.

That Islam and Christianity have each been split into several denominations, is clear proof that there is no consensus. If that is not enough, even religious leaders in the same denomination may not always agree among themselves on how to interpret certain passages.

Since the laws, rules and regulations have been claimed to have come from a certain Omnipotent Being, one wonders why the Being has not made things clear.

Swipenter: Politics and religion don't mix well. Just take a look at Christianity and Islam. When these two religions engaged themselves with politics, a large section of mankind suffered in the name of their religion.

To their credit, Christians have largely booted their church out of their politics, but not before many millions were killed and/or enslaved all in the name of their religion. However Islam and politics seem inseparable even up till now.

Anonymous_3ec6: We should just leave religion out of politics. Religion is between the believer and God. Politics is between the voters and the government.

Starr: In our system of parliamentary democracy, multiracial composition and more importantly, the constitutional provision, religions and politics should be best kept separate and distinct from one another.

The unilateral declaration of Islamic state by former PM Dr Mahathir Mohamad was both not constitutional and not conducive to our socio-multiculturalism. The danger of mixing religion and politics can't be underestimated.

Besides, it is well capable of misinterpretation and hence manipulation by unscrupulous elements for their selfish agenda.

A little incident such a cartoon, film or book purportedly being anti-Islam, can spark off untold violence and senseless killing of innocents who are not even responsible for such a publication and production.

Such acts of violence simply can't be the intent of the Supreme Being, by whatever name he is given. Religions, by their very nature, should be best kept within the private domain of their practitioners rather than state-sanctioned religiosity.

Anonymous #71627369: Religion is a path to God. Period. It is an individual's soul food - how the make it taste, cooked or served is left to the subscribers. We accept that.

Anyone can tell that getting religion institutionalised brings disaster. Just look at all the countries which profess religious laws - chaos, hatred, vengeance and greed reign.

The same goes for the ‘non-divine' system - monarchy to republic, free economy to socialism.

But of the both systems, the religious system is worse. The best is the secular system - only humans can be blame for its failure or success.

God can left to do more important things in our lives.

Broken Foot: Dr Asri is absolutely correct. Religion and politics must be separate. One is blind faith and the other is about a compromises for the common good.

There is no compromise in religion. Either you believe or disbelieve. There is no middle ground. Putting your fate in the hands of people who seem to believe they are doing God's work is very worrying.

Being human, they will interpret religious edict to their political advantage. More so, in the administration of justice. The more puritan they are, the harsher will be the sentence meted out. No amount of rational debate will sway their views as thinking is not allowed.

Bersih@428: This is very common sense talk by Asri; it is time religious figures acknowledged the fact. Where are the other muftis?

The whole lot of Umno-appointed muftis go out of their way to protect Umno leaders in their wrongdoings, including murder, using Islam as a cover.

How could they justify the use of Allah to cover up sins committed by Umno leaders, when they know they themselves would be tainted in the process.

Mutaka Kataka: Here is food for thought: we will be most peaceful if religion stays out of politics.

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