Our erstwhile PM still does not get it after all. He exhorts Muslims to understand the religion as he understands it and urges his ulama to enlighten the lost herds. In not supporting his policies and progress ala Mahathir, are Malays guilty of dogmatism and ultimately being unIslamic?

PAS has always been around, but what has made them so attractive of late? It is not so much their successes but rather Mahathir's failure to present an acceptable face of Islam in his administration of the country.

It is pointless to talk of progress and self-empowerment for the people when it is to be achieved through highly dubious methods which are not guided by Islamic principles.

In Anwar Ibrahim's incarceration, Mahathir had inadvertently exposed himself in all his glory - a man with a mean vindictive self-preserving streak that has no place in the psyche of the Muslims.

The fact is Malays are turned off big time by Umno's politics and have sought 'refuge' in the 'safe' arms of a party that advocates justice and fairness through an Islamic way. Whether they can deliver is another question, but to be identified with Umno now is to be associated with all that is wrong with the Malays ' yang tak sedar diri '. (those who have not realised)

I am not saying that all is bad in Umno, but their leaders must take the rap for the bad 'press' that they are getting. Mahathir cannot expect to win back the hearts of the disillusioned by telling them that they are wrong in their understanding of their religion, it only alienates them further.

The only way is to start setting a good example, clear out all the rubbish and be committed to a transparent, effective and efficient government. Then, before you know it, they will start coming back. But don't wait too long because the likes of Nik Aziz and Hadi Awang are getting fewer in PAS as the progressive, professional Muslims wait to take over.