As a Christian, I share many of the moral concerns of PAS like alcoholism, gambling and the commercial exploitation of the sexy images of women. These things are not good even if we look at them from a secular point of view. And that is why in the West, there are policy debates on laws and the minimum moral order of the society.

In the United States, there are states which enforce a law that requires purchasers of alcohol to prove that they are 18 years old or above. In Sweden, sales taxes on alcohol and alcoholic drinks are intentionally set very high to discourage consumption. In Australia, the sale of alcohol is highly regulated. Gambling, too, is highly regulated in many Western and Asian countries, including China. Gambling is also illegal in Malaysia under the Penal Code and Gambling Act.

The commercial exploitation of the sexy images of women to promote sales of products is deplorable. Whether we are Muslims, or members of PAS or not, we must respect women's images and bodies. Women are no longer chattels or commodities. Women are dignified human beings, too. And that is why there is also strong opposition in the West and all over the world against exploitation of female images and bodies, by secular progressives.

However, PAS must also realise that they can do good to the Malaysian society through the use of more modern and inclusive languages of public discourse.

PAS and BA could sit down amicably to sort these issues patiently one by one, instead of engaging in a shouting match in the open over abstract and pure concepts like 'Islamic state' and 'secularism'. For example, BA could propose that the sale taxes of alcohol or organised gambling be raised. BA could do more research on social policies in the Western societies and other Asian nations.

Most important of all, PAS must not pander to the demand of some over-zealous but pre-modern grassroots members and leaders, and DAP must never take the opinion of a few secular yuppies living corrupt and immoral lifestyles as typical of 'non-Muslims'.

There is still room for cooperation between DAP and PAS in many, many years to come.

We need not only political, but also moral forces, to rebuild Malaysia to be good and safe for our children, male or female.