Reading all the news report that an election may be called soon just compelled me to write a letter about the opposition chances, with particular emphasis on the ability on PAS to actually get votes from me or any liberal thinking Malaysian.

I have not been to any of PAS' ceramah but surely just from reports by malaysiakini alone, which I presume has no reason to distort the facts since it seems to accommodate opposition views, the party appears to be implementing policies which I feel are a hindrance to a progressive society.

How do they expect to gain votes from liberal-minded Malaysians if they must impose the hijab on Muslim women? Or that they believe apostasy should be a crime punishable by death, that apostasy should even be a crime in the first place?

There certainly seem to be lacking an important element of choice in their policies. How about letting us choose for ourselves whether Muslim women want to wear the hijab ? How about giving us the right to choose the religion which feels right to us?

Of course, PAS has every right to continue with its policies, but what's really quite disturbing for me is the consolidation of the other parties into one fold. Is it for political strength that these parties are combining? Or do they truly share the same values?

Either way, it is not viable for a vote from me, which leaves me with one choice and that is the DAP, and it too seems bent on forming a coalition with PAS.

I hope that the opposition could come up with some real answers and take a stand on social issues and economic policies, but for now I hope that they could actually come up with a stand on these questions. Of course, it can be argued that PAS will adopt more liberal ideas by joining the coalition, but so far it has proved adamant in its views, and that is probably the only thing which I respect about PAS. I only wished that the other parties were equally as steadfast.