I wish to comment on the letter Malaysia needs a Kemal Ataturk . I believe there are two issues that have been brought up here. First is about mosque etiquette. I disagree that there is such a thing as a dress code for entering a mosque. The dress code is in relation to the act of performing the solat (prayer) and has no connection to a particular location.

Of course, I am not saying that you can enter a mosque wearing whatever you like but you would show the same respect you would when visiting a friend's house and neither should the host appear too demanding so as to appear arrogant.

Also, I disagree that there are curbs on non-Muslims entering a mosque because there is universality in Islam which is a religion for ‘all of mankind’. Scaring non-Muslims into not going near a mosque only sends out a negative impression that Islam is an exclusive and elitist religion and outsiders cannot join.

The second issue brought up here is - secularism vs religion. The writer's praise for the secular leader of Turkey, Kemal Ataturk, is not justified. Secularism is not the panacea for all the ills of the world such as intolerance and bigotry. Secularism has its own demons which can actually outweigh any of the disadvantages that religion is accused of.

Kemal Ataturk had a dark history of racism and cruelty which taints whatever few accomplishments he can be credited for. It was Ataturk that reneged on the Treaty of Sevres which was to have provided a separate homeland for 20 million Kurds. To make matters worse, Ataturk spearheaded a brutal policy of repression against the Kurds and put down any attempt of separatism with an iron fist.

The Kurds were robbed of their identity. The Kurds were banned from speaking their own language and were arrested if they attempted to wear their traditional costume. Popular Kurdish songs were banned and Kemal Ataturk outlawed the Kurdish people's political party. I hardly think that Kemal Ataturk is a role model for any country.

Supporting secularism in the Islamic world may not be such a good idea as secular leaders have many a time proven to be a disappointment. Saddam Hussein was a secular leader who non- Muslims supported in his war against the Ayatollah's of Iran only to see Saddam Hussein turning against his allies towards the end.

Then there is the support for the secular government of Afghanistan against the fanatical religious extremists, the Taliban. However, Afghanistan's present secular government is showing an ugly side in being perhaps the most corrupt government in the world which is fuelled by money from the drug trade. The brother of the President of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai, Ahmed Karzai, is a drug baron who controls a significant share of the illegal world drug trade.

To make matters worse, another brother of the President of Afghanistan, Mahmood Karzai, is a principal shareholder of the Kabul Bank whose insider dealings caused it to nearly collapse.

If secularism breeds these kind of leaders in the Muslim world, give me a robe and turban any day.