I wish to reply to the letter by Dr Syed Alwi Ahmad who says that no reason is needed to leave Islam. I disagree.

Many Muslims are misinformed about Islam. Syed Alwi states in his letter that Islam believes that people of other faiths will spend eternity in hell. Is that true? Can he back his statement with evidence from the Quran explicitly saying this?

The Quran says those who obey God will go to heaven and those who disobey God will go to hell. Also, with regards to segregation, who says that men and women are not allowed to communicate with one other. There is no law in the Quran that bans close proximity ( khalwat ).

As for Darwin's theory, it has been disputed enough for Darwinian theorists to have red faces. Theory and practice don't match but still Darwin's theory is being rammed down our throats as being the gospel truth.

And Syed Alwi belittles the Syariah law with regards to adultery. But is it fair than Malaysian men who go to Thailand and contract AIDS and then come back and infect their pregnant wives and unborn children get off scot free?

As to Dr HT Tan's Respect others right to religion , I agree with this. However, Tan perhaps does not understand the politics of religion.

In Malaysia, for example, the Orang Asli from the bumiputera community are being pursued by Christian missionaries. Many of their converts to Christianity do so because of the promise of a better life. This will later create instability in the country.

Many of these missionaries are funded by Western nations with the intent of sowing the seeds of disharmony. Yet, Malaysia puts up with Christian missionaries because it is the right thing.

Tan's assertions may be right. Unfortunately, they are directed at the wrong person(s).