I refer to the malaysiakini letter Anti-khalwat men driving away tourists . I agree with the writer who said that the religious department of Langkawi went overboard when they raided an apartment where an elderly American Christian couple were staying.

It doesn't augur well for tourism in this country if foreigners are subject to strict Islamic laws. The news of this will deter others from visiting. Foreigners will think that the 'mullahs' have taken over our nation with their strict interpretation of Islamic law, applicable to all people regardless of their religion and norms.

While I don't have any qualms with our religious officers nabbing Islamic couples for 'khalwat' (close proximity) or being drunk in public, the same standard cannot be applied to people of other faiths as they are not of the same religion of Islam.

One cannot phantom the minds of the zealots who still insisted on checking the apartment of the said American couple after knowing that the man who answered the door was a white man. They then further subject the elderly couple to ridicule by proceeding to raid the premises.

Our image as a friendly nation who welcomes foreign tourists with open arms will be blemished if the culprits - who don't know how to do their job properly - are not castigated or sacked by a higher authority. Nation-building can only be enhanced if people of different faiths respect each other's norms and values and do not to impose their own set of values on other people.

On that score, we have failed miserably as the latest incident in Langkawi has shown and the repercussions will affect our desire to be a top tourist destinations next year. Foreign tourists might skip our nation and visit other countries which are more tourist-friendly.