As Malaysia celebrates its golden jubilee, its citizens should take a step back and reflect on the present situation and consider where this country may be heading towards in the near future. A few of us now living abroad, varying in age and from the three main cultural backgrounds of Malaysia, decided to focus on one troubling aspect of Malaysia today and what it bodes for the future; that of religious extremism.

The recent controversies pivoted upon Islamic issues are an indication of the state of emergency that Malaysia is facing right now. The long list of religious conflicts, the unilateral declaration of Malaysia being an Islamic state (by both current and former executives), the judiciary pandering to the syariah system culminating in the asinine statement by the present chief justice on scrapping the common law system in favour of syariah, are but a few of the many examples of the impending disaster unfolding in Malaysia. As if that weren't enough, we have witnessed the emergence of the Malaysian chapter of an international extremist organization, Hizb ut Tahrir .

It is a commonly held perception that the present Umno led government has overseen the rapid politicisation of Islam merely to distract from various governance issues. While this may certainly be true, the main reasons or motivation behind this Islamisation process may have a much more darker aspect behind it. The Islamisation process isn't a primary policy initiative in and of itself so much as it is really a consequence, or response, to a certain malignancy plaguing certain segments of Malaysian Muslims.

Our very own local end products of this malignancy include such 'notables' as the late Azahari Hussein (Bali bomber), his accomplice Noordin Top (presently on the run) and Zulkifli Hir (most wanted of terrorists), as well as two Malaysians who were recently detained at Guantanamo Bay for terrorism related activities. Certainly not something to be proud of for the Malaysia Boleh Book of Records.

This government sanctioned Islamisation process we are witnessing in Malaysia then has the purpose of not only countering local political challengers (PAS) but also to take the wind out of the sails of the violent extremists (KMM/JI/al Qaeda offshoot types). But both routes of Islamisation (government facilitated or through violent revolutions) ultimately lead to the same outcome: a failed state of gargantuan proportions in terms of economic, political and socio-cultural aspects.

Given the present trajectory, a failed state will be Malaysia's ultimate and rather unavoidable fate. It doesn't matter if BN and Umno are voted out tomorrow any Malay dominated alternative government (including PKR and Anwar Ibrahim) will have to pander to the Islamist extremists to maintain a relatively stable hold on power before it collapses under the strain of religious extremism helped along, of course, by corruption, race based politics, ineptitude, and the general malaise brought about by the synergistic interaction of the 'tidak apa' mentality and the 'katak bawah tempurung' outlook of life.

But there is an alternative for those who do not wish to sink with this country. Those who have the means to and who have been toying with the idea, should prepare to emigrate immediately. Those who do not have the immediate means, should start planning ahead for alternatives and keep in mind that migrating to the West is not the only available option. Those of you who are students abroad should work hard and come out tops in your graduating class, acquire internships, jobs, and get involved in professional networks that may help you on your way towards establishing the roots of residency in your adopted countries.

Those who are stuck have our best wishes, cold as it may initially seem, but perhaps a Malaysian diaspora who may find their unity while abroad rather than at home may someday be able to provide emigration opportunities for some of those not fortunate enough to leave on their own accord or resources.

Before we wrap up, we'd like to stress on two important points that should be kept in mind.

Firstly, this malignancy of religious extremism coursing through the lifeblood of Malaysia is in no way a negative reflection upon the vast majority of Malaysian Muslims.

Like their Muslim brothers and sisters elsewhere in the world, they are perfectly ordinary law abiding folks who have the misfortune of bankrupt politicians and religious zealots playing pucks with their faith. Like their fellow Muslims elsewhere, the Malaysian Muslims will ultimately become the first victims of religious extremism (and some might say they are already being victimised).

Therefore, is anybody really surprised that many Malay Muslims are relinquishing their Malaysian citizenship for foreign lands, as recently reported (and then defensively retracted) by the government?

Secondly, potential Malaysian emigrants should keep in mind that it does not make you a lesser person to abandon a sinking ship or to decide not to remain and 'fight' for a better future in Malaysia. The modern era of the 'global village', not to mention the recognition of merit almost everywhere else except in Malaysia, makes such a 'fight' irrelevant.

So, to fellow Malaysians who may soon be joining the diaspora, we wish you bon voyage and best of luck. And may you find your true Merdeka!