I am a Muslim and I must say that it is very sad to see the way Islam is progressing in this country. It is very appalling to see that a country that is approaching its 50th year of independence still cannot produce a society that has yet to mature and stand on its own without being having to be told what is right and what is wrong.

With regards to the recent Jawi raid , some are of the opinion that the Muslims should not be in a place where liquor is served. Views like these, in an advanced multi-racial society like Malaysia, undermines the image of Islam.

The disco is only a small place that serves liquor. What about living in a country that produces liquor? Are we Muslims supposed to pack our bags and leave? I have a few questions to ask. Why all these rules now?

Discotheques have been a part of our lives as far back as the 70s and 80s and most of us Muslims who have been going to discos on and of have turned out all right. We have not become a menace to society and most importantly, we're still in Islam.

Secondly, out of the hundreds of discotheques in the Klang Valley, why was Zouk singled out by Jawi for a raid? For the uninformed, this disco is managed by a Singapore-based company and only recently opened. Was there any hidden agenda?

Jawi said they acted on complaint that there was a 'liquor festival'. Do discotheques serve only coffee and tea? And thirdly, are all discotheques and pubs in Malaysia owned by non-Muslims?

I would like to advice Jawi to tackle the root of the problem instead of just going for short-term measures and making a mockery out of Islam.

Why can't we advance in the field of science and technology like others do? If I want to progress in my career, I can't help the fact that I will have to go to places (that do not observe Islamic rules) to meet other seniors who are not Muslims.

I am a better Muslim if I can sit down, have a Coke or plain water and gather as much knowledge as possible. Unless we get the support from our leaders, we will continue to be stuck with a paradigm where other people can manipulate Islam against us because we have already lost touch of Islam as a whole, taking just bits and pieces to satisfy certain needs.

How are we going to rectify this problem? If we Muslims can compete globally and thus lift the image of Islam we will not only make our country proud but also set an example for the next generation of Muslim youth.

It is very sad that some Muslim leaders today place an emphasis on preparing for the afterlife saying it's okay if you do not excel when you are alive because it is the afterlife that really matters, not the here and now.

But being a true warrior of Islam is not just about preparing yourself for Heaven but it is also about making sure that you have made an effort towards the betterment of society without neglecting your responsibility as a Muslim to God and family.