The ousted MB of Perak Mohd Nizar Jamalludin was criticised as being un-Islamic for taking part in a candle-light vigil in remembrance of the late Teoh Beng Hock.

His ‘mistake' was holding a candle which these critics say is not the right thing to do as far as Islam is concerned.

But what happens if a large cut-out image of the leader of the Federal government is placed in the Batu Caves Hindu Temple? Is this Islamic?

Our politics has become one of the dirtiest in the world where almost anything goes.

We have come to a point in our progress where the people are demanding a government that is less publicity driven and more performance orientated.

The act of allowing one's cut-out to be placed in the place of worship is something new to Malaysians.

This culture which emanates from India is not something positive which a multi-racial and multi-cultural nation like Malaysia should be following.

When we are in a place of worship, no one is more omnipotent than God himself, this is something which all religions have in common.

One wonders why the critics chose to keep silent about the cut-out and the function at the Batu Caves temple but highlighted the candle holding by Nizar.

It is obvious that double standards are the norm of the day in Malaysian politics but the people cannot be taken for fools!

The Malays have got to realise that this enslavement of the mind is what keeps them from real progress, that is the progress of the mind.

For the mind to progress, we have to agree to disagree and hold discussions in a civil manner. When we compare acts, we have to compare them fairly and not lop-sidedly.

The concept of 1Malaysia is never going to see the light of day until all the barriers of divide and rule is taken off from the political landscape of the country.

The PM should lead by example by being a reformer, whether he gets another term or not is left to the electorate but the reforms have got to start if we are to unite as Malaysians.

If the PM means what he says by the slogan that his PR team has coined, he should first admit the mistake in Perak and call for fresh state elections.

The MACC should not be under his thumb but under the direct scrutiny of parliament.

Holding candle light vigils is not going to threaten the position of any religion in this country. But the continued harassment of citizens wanting to express their thoughts may undermine the fairness and equality that our major religions propound.

Equating the holding of a candle as being a threat to national security does not excite the maturing Malaysian public who have long been kept away from the free flow of information.

Censoring the internet will create a backlash which will be greater than the political tsunami that had hit the nation in March 2008. Haven't the occupants of the corridors of power learnt anything?

Pakatan Rakyat may have its internal squabbles but it is a sign that we are heading towards the direction of equality in Malaysia, where we can hold candles and light oil lamps whether we are Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists or Christians.

It is a sign that we are seeing a coalition of parties that had existed for a long time but just did not find the right time to strike the right cord that will bring Malaysia closer to the equality that we so rightly want.