I refer to MY Ho's letter ' Keadilan, a bridge between PAS and non-Muslims ' and NKM's ' For a four-year-old party, Keadilan has done well '.

In my opinion, both the the writers are right to a large extent. It is not easy to be in opposition in a repressive environment where many people have been mentally conditioned to preserve the status quo at all cost and without critical thinking.

Moreover, since Keadilan is a mass-based moderate opposition party that opens its door to all Malaysians, it is really threatening to the Umno-dominated regime. That is probably why the Umno-controlled media prefers to give a bit of space to PAS and DAP, but not Keadilan, to 'prove' its 'impartiality', knowing fully well that both PAS and DAP are not centrist parties that could appeal to middle-of-the-road voters and threaten the regime to its foundation. The police also seems to target specifically at Keadilan for political repression for the same reason.

This is, in fact, the success of the Keadilan concept as a multiethnic and multireligious party led by moderate Muslims. Some see the party as 'indecisive' or ' wishy-washy' but, in my opinion, moderation necessarily involve the moral decision to eschew racially or religiously extremist thinking often disguised as 'logical' or 'scientific' reasoning. Malaysia is a complex and multifaceted society that cannot accept any form of extremist thinking in inter-ethnic and inter-religious relations.

Inclusiveness is a virtue, not sin. Freedom of speech, if not tempered by inclusiveness, moderation, respect for each other's religions, cultures, languages and moral aspiration can ruin a multiethnic and multireligious society like ours. Keadilan has inspired many Malaysians how to be vocal oppositionists and yet remain moderate and inclusive in conducting inter-ethnic and inter-religious discourses in the public. God bless Keadilan and all its brave leaders and members.