Sometimes in order to win votes or even support, there is a tendency not to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Some even have to include half truths so that their lies become believable.

Recently, I attended a forum organised by the Bar Council on the eve of the Human Rights Day, the theme being Freedom of Religion. The next day I had another dose of human rights rhetoric, this time by Suhakam.

Both these events were eye-openers for me, in that most speakers espoused the freedom of the individual as well as the importance of the dignity of a person. No one touched on subjects like the status of a Bumiputra/non-Bumiputra, the 'positive/nonpositive discriminations' with regard to government policy and the Jews.

Why, particularly in Malaysia, is there this great anger, this great dislike for all who are Jew, regardless of their citizenship, or regardless of their political ideology or affiliation with the "Israeli regime"? Everyone and anything remotely connected to a Jew is swept into an all-encompassing carpet of hatred.

In this scenario, one wonders as to the dignity of a Jew or half-Jew who may be a Malaysian citizen. What happens to his human rights; does he have any? Is he anywhere in the equation of this dream of democracy that we all crave for? Is he equal/less equal than anyone else?

The PAS objective states: Menyertai dan bekerjasama dengan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu dan badan-badan lain yang sah bagi mengekalkan keamanan dan menjamin hak-hak asasi manusia serta menghapuskan segala macam kezaliman, kepalsuan, perhambaan dan penindasan di kalangan umat manusia.

A politician demonstrates against an Israeli cricket team and he becomes a hero, a role model, an icon. No one bothers to explain that not all Jews have to be punished for the sins of their leaders, just like no one expects all Iraqis to suffer just because of Saddam Hussein. Ordinary Jews all over the world are humans too.

Surah al-Baqarah:62 states, " Sesungguhnya orang Mukmin, orang Yahudi, orang Nasrani dan orang Syabin, sesiapa saja di antara mereka yang beriman kepada Hari Kemudian dan beramal soleh, mereka akan menerima pahala daripada Tuhan, tiada sebarang kebimbangan kepada mereka dan tidak mereka bersedih pula. "

It is interesting to note PAS' stand against all Jews regardless of who or where they are and who they represent, but to assume they are all one and the same and not explaining to their followers otherwise is a deliberate attempt to deceive for purposes best known to themselves.

Al-Ghazzali, in full Abu Hamid Muhammad Ibn Muhammad At-tusi Al Ghazali, a Muslim theologian and mystic said: " Jika orang lain mempunyai 99 kejahatan dan hanya satu kebaikan tengoklah satu kebaikannya dan jika kita mempunyai 99 kebaikan dan satu kejahatan tengoklah satu kejahatan itu .