I am writing with regard to your report of the opposition to the Keadilan-PRM merger. The report states that groups like Muslim Youth Movement (Abim) and Jamaah Islah Malaysian (JIM) form part of this opposition on the basis that PRM is un-Islamic.

I am not a member of any political party at the present time. I find that basis of the opposition to the merger quite pedantic and not very constructive. As an observer, I can say that I do not find JIM or Abim Islamic as well, the point being 'Islamicity' is very much a contested issue. That much has to be accepted and we should move from there with an open mind.

Muslims who claim some other Muslims or an entity are not-Islamic must first embrace the idea of a challenge. I believe through consultation and discussion, each of our notions of Islam or any other issue would be clearer through open processes.

If we are not ready to face a challenge to our way of thinking then any kind of change or islah (reformation) is inconceivable. We might as well stay under our tempurungs (coconut shells).