Jane Mun, Ipoh.com.my's editor says in her letter Outrageously extreme the bane of us all , the rapid development has not paralleled intellectual development.

This is not totally true as it has produced individuals insensitive, unaccommodating, disrespectful of other peoples religions and shamefully ignorant of the laws of other states surfacing as cyber critics.

The holy men that she is ranting about are the legitimate elected representatives of their state and they have formulated policies that are suitable with local culture and religion of the majority, never have such policies affected the quality of life of the other races culturally or religiously.

Being a non-Muslim and non-Malay has not made me uncomfortable with these minor alterations to the way of life of Muslims in my East Coast state. It is utterly insensitive to criticise the state government for formulating policies saying these changes are done to seek attention to their religion.

Chinese cultural shows, dramas, dances and singing are still being held regularly and I stand witness to that. In fact there is a cultural programme on Oct 11-12 to be opened by Kelantan Menteri Besar Nik Aziz Nik Mat. There is no insistence on the imposition of a ban where Chinese affairs are concerned.

The Islamic affairs are the prerogative of the state and so is their interpretation of the scripture. They have been given the mandate to manage the religious affairs by the electorate. Inability to understand the local culture leads to confusion. Condemning the syariah criminal laws is adding insult to injury. These laws are only applicable to Muslims and so are the by-laws of the state.

As for the separate counters at supermarkets, it is making a mountain out of a molehill. There are procedures for different situations and things happen to be different in Kelantan, but why are those who do not even live here complaining about it when the residents do not.

The writer's logic about singers and entertainers being not able to work is misplaced. I am sure they will not starve if they cannot perform in Kelantan. The misinformation about women are not allowed to work too is designed to demonise the so-called holy men. Despite Kelantan's geographical disadvantage, we still do have investors from Taiwan, Japan and Germany setting up factories here.

Having lived in Kelantan for a good 24 years, I can vouch that life has been good under the so-called "religious extremists".

The non-Malays have been treated fairly by the "religious extremists", you could have all the cultural shows and concerts for the other races, eat all the pork until you run out of cash, bath in beer if you wished to do so, [there is plenty here], get land, business licences, more religious freedom (to build a Buddhist temple to sky if you had the money unlike the previous government), state scholarships and disaster relief funds without raical bias. This list goes on till it bores everyone.

I am sad we have become very insensitive towards our Muslim brethren, we criticise their religion, holy scriptures and religious leaders freely, criticise their culture and their beliefs when we have no right to do so. To create a harmonious Malaysia we should stop these kinds of attacks, the prime minister has correctly said extreme statements invite extreme responses.