Islamic state is not a sheer local political issue, but a global issue that concerns the international community as a whole. It is correlated to the prevailing overzealous assertion of ethno-religious identity, which can be found in any part of the world in the wake of the post-colonial modern world.

To resolve this predicament, many scholars and activists have proposed the concept of secular state or secularism. Unfortunately, it does not go down well with people. The notion of secular state as modeled by the United States of America has generated more political and social problems and resentment in the world than solving them. Nor does the religious revivalism, for example, in the context of Malaysia - Islamisation - offer any solution.

Islamisation as propounded by Umno has failed to infuse the teachings of rahmat (mercy) and hikmah (wisdom) in Islam, which supposedly can unite and pacify the human race in Malaysia. Moreover, as demonstrated in the whole scenario of the phantom threat of the establishment of an Islamic state, which is partly due to PAS' own fiasco, Islamisation has turned into a reinforcement of the Malay ethnic identity sort rather than evolving into a wider universality of Islam based upon Qur'an and Sunnah, which emphasises so much on equity, justice and compassion.

As a result, Islamisation has pushed the non-Muslims into a corner. And gradually they are forced to become more and more conscious about their own particular ethno-religious identity vis--vis the Muslims. They respond to it with such an increased awareness and heated feelings of the 'others' in terms of Islamic state, so much so that the admonition of Gautama Buddha: "Hatred cannot be dispelled by hatred, and only by metta (loving-kindness) alone is hatred appeased", and the gospel of Jesus Christ: "Thou shalt love thy neighbours as thyself" have been sidelined.

Of late, as reported in both PAS' newsletter- Harakah and its daily news website - Harakahdaily.com , Prof Dato' Dr Khoo Kay Kim, the head of History Department of Universiti Malaya, advised PAS to search for more meeting points with the non-Muslims citizens in the context of Islamic state. According to him, contrary to the prevalent view that Asians are getting more secular-minded, the Asian community has never abandoned the spiritual life, so much so that we will find difficulty to term it as a secular society.

Given our diversified and pluralistic ethnic and cultural set-up, one would expect various religions to be entrusted to play a more dominant role in the social, economic and political affairs. But surprisingly this does not take place.

However, there have been attempts to instill such spirit and to install similar platforms in the non-governmental level. Groups like CCBCCHS (Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism and Sikhism) and Insaf (Interfaith Spiritual Fellowship) under the umbrella of Pure Life Society are the ongoing efforts towards this end. Mention must also be made of Fire, a Catholic movement devoted to inter-religious empowerment.

Unfortunately, Islam is totally absent from CCBCHS and the Muslims' (except the Chairman, Dr Amir Farid Isahak) involvement in Insaf is also greatly disappointing. The recent proposal approved unanimously by PAS in its 47th annual general assembly to set up a national unity consultative council, which comprises various religions, I hope, may pave way for a more active role on the part of the Muslims in interfaith cooperation, in terms of political, economic and societal advancement for the well-being of Malaysians.

If a reign of a single religion may cause religious rancour and civil conflicts, as most worry about, than how about a reign by the joint-effort of various religions in Malaysia with the majority's religion as the head to lead, but not to dominate others?

Should that come true, I think Malaysia will be the first multi-religious based Islamic state in this modern world, to the envy of other nations. Hence, a model spiritual state for the world to emulate our goodwill.