After in its initial defiance, the New Straits Times has finally came up with a front-page apology for publishing the offensive cartoon about Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). Still, in its public apology, the NST editors, due to their sheer ignorance and naivete about Islam, still displayed some measure of defiance because according to them the cartoon did not contain a picture of the Prophet.

The editors said as long as there is no picture of the Prophet it should be alright. In this case I would like to take the editors to Thailand or even Japan. Same cartoon but replace with the caption 'Caricatures of King Bhumibol or Emperor Akihito While You Wait' and see if they don't get arrested.

In these countries their kings are highly revered or even considered divine and any derogatory reference let alone a cartoon or caricature of them will attract a severe punishment.

In so far as Muslim outrage is concerned, it is not just about drawing a picture of their Prophet. Any derogatory reference to him is considered blasphemous and the NST editors will be well- advised to educate themselves on this.

On a related matter, many people, including Western-educated Muslims, have perhaps come across or even used the phrase: 'If the mountain doesn't come to Muhammad, Muhammad must go to the mountain.'

Whoever invented this phrase was clearly anti-Islam. But the phrase is so popular so much so that (ignorant) Muslims themselves would use it in their writings or conversations.