I agree with Farah Fahmy's views on the fears of our non-Muslim community of the threat of total Muslim control of our nation ([#1] Don't dismiss genuine fears [/#], Feb 5). I remember one or two general elections ago, our prime minister said that the majority, having won, should have everything. I also remember Dr Mahathir Mohamad asking why non-Muslims do not convert to Islam for the love of the religion, but only do so when they marry Muslim girls.

The reason is the way it is practised in this country. Firstly, it is highly politicised - a Muslim is a Malay and a Malay is a Muslim. So, when a non-Muslim embraces Islam, he/she masuk Melayu (embraces the Malay culture), not masuk Islam (embraces Islam). You will end up behaving and thinking like a Malay.

This is not the case when you convert to other religions - no one asks or demands that you give up your culture and roots. It is not surprising that Muslim Chinese are discouraged from celebrating Chinese New Year, which is a cultural festival. I am a senior citizen and I have Malay friends who are aghast that a Christian Chinese can celebrate both Christmas and Chinese New Year.

If I have my facts wrong, can someone of authority correct me? When I was working overseas, I often sit with my colleagues from the Middle East for lunch and I had many opportunities to ask them about Islam. They were very surprised that khalwat (popularly interpreted here as "close proximity") and haram foods occupy much of the Muslim thinking in Malaysia (at that time there were many raids on khalwat ). Do you know that many Arabs keep dogs? Especially the Bedouins who live in the desert?

I can say with great certainty that if Islam were not so rigidly and narrowly practised in this country, there would be many marriages between Malays and Chinese; the end result would be a Malaysia of real unity and not the sham it is now.

For a prime minister to say that the majority takes all after an election shows the thinking behind the man and what he is made of. All the economic, social and political upheavals that have occurred is the result of such thinking. No wonder the non-Malays leave the country in droves. Now he wants them to return and serve the country!

I hope the leadership of the ruling front, especially Umno, has the wisdom not to launch the country into civil strife from which it can never recover. The reality of geopolitics will ensure that such strife will not be of a short duration. Perhaps the people in authority have better analysts in their think tanks. If they have, their ideas are certainly very welcome. Peace to everyone!