The object of an official inquiry, wrote Joseph Conrad in Lord Jim , is not the fundamental why, but the superficial how. Nowhere was this more clearly demonstrated than in the recently concluded criminal trial of the Al-Ma'unah members.

They were convicted of waging war against the King in connection with the deadly arms heist at the army base in Grik, Perak.

Alas, after 128 days of testimony and 61 witnesses later, with the public hearing all the grisly details (the hows) of the attacks, the fundamental issue of why remains unanswered. Until we deal with that, there is no way of effectively preventing similar incidents from recurring.

Much has been written on this tragic episode, with the authorities blaming deepening Malay polarisation, 'deviationist' Islamic teachings, and combative opposition parties for the presumed climate of hate in the country.

One social scientist even suggested that this tragedy reflected the persistent feudal mentality among Malays!