Zico's arguments in ' No electoral check against an Islamic theocracy ' was interesting, but I beg to draw different conclusion from his.

First, the discrimination resulted from the skewed implementation of NEP would have no end in sight, no matter what the demographic changes would come. The secret is, the policies were made to benefit only the very few BNputeras, instead of the larger segments of bumiputeras.

Instead of subsidising the forecasted 70 percent of the population in 2020 (predicted to be unsustainable), it would actually need to care for less that 5 percent which is the BNputeras. There is no amount of globalisation process that could put this practice to a halt. The only thing that can bring about changes is the Malaysian voters' ability to go beyond fear, and exercise their voting power diligently.

Second, the fear that "once you choose an Islamic state, you cannot return to democracy peacefully" is simply unfounded, especially when it is attributed to PAS. Unless PAS has its own powerful military force and a complete team of public administrators which will replace the whole existing government machineries in full, the worry of PAS abolishing existing parliamentary democratic system is unnecessary.

Nobody with a working brain should believe that PAS will do that, or capable of doing that, even if some of its leaders intend to. One needs not get any guarantee from PAS not to abolish the electoral right of the Malaysian citizens once it come to power. Obviously, it is something beyond their wildest dream. BN-owned media propaganda is trying their best to relate chaotic Taliban and Iranian Islamic Revolution with PAS, only to fool the insecure and nave Malaysian electorates.

Being a modern, well organised, and democratic Islamic party, with almost 70 percent of its membership with tertiary education, PAS, together with other BA components, can be a vital force to create a just, modern, progressive, and united Malaysia, observant to Islamic teaching, the official religion of the land. PAS occupies moral ground high enough to fight the ever undemocratic and corrupt BN regime.

At the same time, it enjoys strong Islamic credentials to lead the ever growing and Islamically-aware Muslim population against any tendency towards militancy, terrorism, or exclusive and divisive obscurantism.

People like Farish A Noor may be vocal enough, in his own way, against terrorism and obscurantism, but his obvious lacking in Islamic credentials wouldn't bring much influence to the general Islamic communities in Malaysia.

Lastly, the main hindrance for Malaysian electorates to vote against the existing corrupt regime is fear. Most of the fear that has gripped our minds is merely the product of disinformation and propaganda, no thanks to our government-controlled media and the introduction of many draconian laws.

The fact is, all developed nations have changed the ruling party at least once. The logic is simple. Electorates are the customers, and the elected ruling parties must be made to compete to deliver better, each time they are voted into power. Political hegemony is an expensive road towards complacency.

Just vote for BA component parties in the next general election, and you're guaranteed the right to vote them out if they don't perform in subsequent elections. Who says we have to vote for the lesser evil, each and every time? I would rather choose to teach all the evils some good lessons.