Raja Petra Kamaruddin is absolutely right in saying that Islamic Law has been in practice in Malaysia since Merdeka, and I would add, from even before that. I would add that the non-Muslim people of Malaysia are also fully aware of how this system works and respect these laws and the way it is applied and practised. We are all also fully respectful of the fact that as Muslims, they all freely submit to these laws and there is really nothing for us to comment on.

As for PAS' aspirations to clinch complete conformity and application of the syariah laws, so long as it continues to apply only to Muslims, there is once again nothing for non-Muslims to comment on, except to say good luck to all those affected by this.

Really then, this is something only the Muslim people of Malaysia can decide upon. No doubt there is the secular criminal justice system in operation, which, at the moment supercedes the Islamic justice system in criminal cases. Is it the intent of PAS that when a criminal can be prosecuted under the syariah justice system, that he be handed over? Alternatively, is it the intent of PAS that Muslims not be subject to the secular criminal justice system at all?

If justice is done and seen to be done, once again I would assume most non-Muslims would not care about this. But maybe there has to be some amount of certainty to the non-Muslim about what happens when a Muslim incurs a criminal offence against a non-Muslim or vice-versa. There has to be certainty about justice in trade related disputes too when the dispute is between the two parties.

I do not think these things are insurmountable. It is PAS's duty to state these for the benefit of non-Muslims, whose support they seek.

The current debate about the criticism of PAS' Tok Guru Nik Aziz Nik Mat over some of his remarks, however, has very little to do with Islamic teachings. It was more about the right of non-Muslims to comment on statements published in the national press directed towards the broader audience.

The statement made was by a politician to begin with. That is why it was even published. A political position of the kind held by the Tok Guru opens him up to all his constituents. His constituents are not confined to Muslims alone. Therefore, it is not necessary that I be first qualified to comment on statements made by the Tok Guru when this is published in the national press or any political press. For that matter I would consider the Harakah too as being a political paper.

In a situation like the one Tok Guru finds himself in, should he want to make a comment that is directed towards Muslims only, he should then ensure that the statement is so qualified and preferably the statement is also confined to the relevant media.

However, should he want to exploit the reach he gets because of his political credentials, he should then be prepared for the ramifications. On that score I would add that the Tok is not alone in this duality of roles.

Very often we also see Karpal Singh getting disproportionate coverage for statements he makes as a senior lawyer. We all know only too well, that when Karpal does make a statement, he does so because he is firstly qualified to.

However, the weight given to his statement takes on a different dimension because we also know him to be a DAP leader. Should, therefore, Karpal be subject to the same ramifications? I should say so.

In choosing to use his political reach to push through his religious agenda, I would say that the Tok Guru might just be undermining the sanctity of his beliefs as he opens his statements to be questioned in ways that he and his followers might find uncomfortable with.

The presumption that I may not be qualified to comment, for any number of reasons, may find comfort with some, but is certainly not for many. Sadly, it is also a poor defence. In contemporary study of religion, there is no question that cannot be asked, as far as I know. But then again, maybe Islam and Muslims in Malaysia are not ready for contemporary study. But then again, we do have the likes of Farish A Noor, whose writings I miss a lot.