Temporal powers condemning the spiritual powers, this description best portrays Dr Mahathir Mohamad's remarks at the 'opening' of the International Islamic University of Malaysia yesterday ([#1] Religious priorities affecting progress [/#], April 17).

His claim that "attempts by certain quarters urging the study of religion to gain merit in the next world" reflects a temporal statement, by a leader of a total secular system where spirituality is relegated to a low priority issue.

Religion teaches virtue, knowledge and love; all religions have emphasised these three cardinal core values as indispensable in the creation of a holistic human civilisation. Any system or human society which ignores any one of these pillars of truth will end up distorted and unbalanced.

A secular system like the Barisan Nasional system emphasises knowledge, sidelining virtue and love, thus ending up in a incomplete progress where knowledge rules supreme. Mahathir's statement that religion cares more for the next world, is a reflection of his ignorance on the spirit of true religion.

He has selectively ignored the fact that knowledge alone cannot provide the creative substance for true civilisation, it must be guarded and guided by virtue and love. Virtue and love will ensure that knowledge is not abused.

Because Mahathir's action, particularly his atrocious scheme to persecute his former deputy Anwar Ibrahim, was seen an act totally devoid of virtue and love by most fair-minded citizens, especially the Muslims.

Mahathir has been perceived as lacking this twin vital values. A leader rich only in knowledge and destitute in virtue and love will not be able to share wealth with his people and take care of their needs with justice and fairness.

Needless to say that Mahathir is wanting of enlightenment in this aspect. As a secular leader he must not be carried away with the thought that religion is about the next world. Without virtue and love society will become immoral, criminal, lawless and disunited; the signs of which are beginning to show up in our society.

Let it be known that a secular political leader is no religious expert, nor a point of religious reference. His mind obscured by his political agenda, shamed by numerous reports and allegations of corruption, Mahathir has no other choice but to derail the religious awareness that is fast growing among the Muslims and others.

Mahathir must understand the words of Christ, "Man does not live by bread alone". Providing food and material goodness alone will not bring happiness and well-being to the human society. At the same time it needs the spiritual sustenance to make progress complete and wholesome.

By making statements which underrates spiritual values, Mahathir exposed his ignorance ( jahiliah ) and made a mockery of his position as a top leader.

He has made enmity with virtue and love, and has earned only more hatred, the very thing he is struggling to reduce.