PUMs (Muslim Scholars Association of Malaysia) complaint and accusation of New Straits Times and malaysiakini columnist Dr Farish A Noor and other writers for allegedly demeaning Islam reflects poorly on their inability to respond to the religious and intellectual ideas put forth by their learned other half.

Instead of countering ideas in a dignified and scholarly manner, as one would expect of these elite and very learned men of the religion, they complained to the Council of Rulers that these writers supposedly "insulted" Islam in their works.

What is even more telling is that the offer to hold a dialogue with these writers has not been taken up by PUM. Nor has PUM properly explained to the Malaysian public why the ideas of the writers were so offensive to Islam.

Depriving the writers the dialogue and the Malaysian public an explanation of the "wrongs" of the writers is in itself a great injustice and grates against Islams principle as a religion of peace and tolerance.

Their behaviour contradicts their claims to be learned men and contributes absolutely nothing to the Muslim community's understanding of Islamic ideas. It only serves to considerably lower their confidence of the cleric class. In the eyes of the non-Muslims, this behaviour only confirms their negative perception of the religion especially after the Sept 11 terror attacks.

We must admit that the world is now wary of Muslims  therecent head scarves ban in Singapore is testimony to this. The selective persecution of Islamic scholars, be they Muslims or non-Muslims in Malaysia, sends a very strong and clear signal that Malaysia no longer practises a peaceful and tolerant Islam as it once claimed.

Unwittingly, the clerics are proving the West right by helping to reinforce the image of a growing brand of militant Islam in the region.

Given the on-going superficial competition between political parties to appear more "Islamic" in Malaysia, there is a possibility that these writers might be "sacrificed" at the altar by the ruling government in order to appear more "Islamic".

What the powers-that-be must remember is the lurking reprisal of the United States declaring Malaysia a terrorist state, which comes with grave political and economic consequences.

Hence, Malaysia is not wise to "sacrifice" effective writers who have championed a peaceful and tolerant Islam and have relentlessly fought for the image of religion and country at prestigious international forums.

Besides, internationally respected Malaysian intellectuals like Dr Farish A Noor, a defender of the Islamic faith, is a rare gem and should be guarded jealously. This is also true for brave Muslim women like Zainah Anwar of Sisters-in-Islam who dared lock horns with the clerics to alleviate the humiliation and sufferings of Muslim women in the Syariah courts.

Non-Muslims like Dr Patricia Martinez who studied Islam are also rare and is what the country needs to foster better race relations for a multi-racial and multi-religious country. Sacrificing Dr Farish, Zainah, and Dr Martinez as well as the rest for cheap and short-term political gratifications is indeed not very clever for it will only anger ordinary Malaysians and reduce future election votes for the ruling party.

Even though the clerics do not really understand that the works of Dr Farish are based on world-renowned Muslim clerics of the past, defamatoryallegations and harassment against a Muslim is a cardinal sin in Islamic law. We must remember that the dignity and reputation of all persons, including non-Muslims, are treated as sacred in Islam.

As a citizen, I request that the government mandate the dialogue between PUM and the accused writers to promote an environment that will pre-empt further unsavoury judgements of Malaysia, especially by the United States.