I refer to the letter I refer to the letter Non-Muslim M'sians are 'dhimmis'.

Bai Yuen Sheng and JAD and millions other Malaysians, Muslims and non-Muslims alike, are on a different wavelength from Mahdar Tahir and the likes of him. Mahdar has made it clear, "Actually, non-Muslim Malaysians are dhimmis....". (the stress on 'are' is mine).

Get it? Denounce the term and scream injustice as loud as you can, but to Mahdar Tahir and the leaders of PAS, you non-Muslims are of an inferior class of citizens. I single out PAS because to other non-political Islamic groups, the term 'dhimmi' is insignificant. To them, Muslims are fellow believers in Islam and non-Muslims are not. Politics-wise, we are all equal as citizens. But not to political Islamists.

Remember what was among the first thing PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang did on being given the fluke shot of being menteri besar of Terengganu in 1999? I say fluke shot because PAS did not win on its own accord. The people voted for the opposition on the understanding that should BN be defeated, Barisan Alternatif would take over, not PAS. Voters were outraged at the Anwar Ibrahim incident and just wanted to bring down BN.

Even then, had the opposition not formed as solid a pact as the then BA did, the BN government might have maintained its hold on Terengganu. Inefficient, corrupt or whatever, BN's image of unity goes down well with the people. Yes, the overwhelming majority of us Malaysians of every race and religion do desire unity.

Back to what Abdul Hadi did - to the horror of other leaders of component parties of BA, the idealistic Hadi who had mistakenly thought that the people had at last bought PAS' version of Islam, decided to impose 'jizya', a tax that is paid only by 'dhimmis'. This after months of nationwide pre-election campaign promising equality, justice and good governance.

It was understandable that many non-Muslims threw their support behind PAS during the months of tumult leading to the election, but it was very mind-boggling to see that quite a few still support the party which had bestowed upon them the exclusive title of 'dhimmi'.

Should, through another great injudiciousness of BN or Umno as happened in 98, PAS win the next election and run the country, do you think that you would enjoy the same freedom that you are presently enjoying?

As for Malaysian Dhimmi , such a defeatist attitude as yours does not help. You may have had contact with Malay Muslims all your life but maybe you have only met the kind who have helped you feel the way you do. There are plenty others.