DAP's outcry regarding PAS' idea of setting up an Islamic state and a very real threat that the issue will seriously disrupt BA's unity reminds me of an old story about a poor farmer and his son.

The old man wants to buy a goat but since he's already old and sickly he suggested that the son take care of the animal. When the goat gave birth, one of them will own the young goat and the next time the goat gives birth the other will own the new goat.

Initially both father and son think this is a really good idea but they soon disagree on who should get the first young goat, and what if the second birth is not as good as the first?

Discussion turns into argument which ends with the father chasing the son out of the house and all this happens before the goat is even bought.

It is a sad thing that DAP takes this short sighted stance at this stage when more and more people are sympathetic towards BA, which has a good chance of toppling BN in the next elections.

This awkward infighting is a much needed respite for the long suffering BN and threatens to upstage the more genuine concerns which people should care about regarding the government's increasing draconian measures and threats towards dissent and the opportunistic swoop on some student activists soon after the DTC fire - which was indirectly insinuated by some to be caused by criminal elements among student activists although the more likely cause based on some reports was a simple short circuit as a result of overzealous preparation for the PM's visit!

It saddens me that DAP still fails to understand PAS' idealism and what Islamic justice is all about. I must congratulate BN because it's strategy to demonize the idea of Islamic state is exactly how DAP seems to think what Islam is all about.

Terengganu and Kelantan is a small taste of what Islamic governance is all about. Both Nik Aziz and Haji Hadi's primary concern is justice for all. This is the primary core value that DAP should remember about Islamic state. The rest are details which must be implemented in the right time and context.

There are many examples of seemingly cruel laws adopted in many countries which are acceptable to the people. Treason in most countries is punishable by death hence one can understand apostasy in the right condition and context is punishable by death in Islam.

Islamic justice does not allow free for all cronyism, plunder of state's riches, corruption, repression of basic human rights issue to dissent. These are the universal values that both DAP and PAS aspire to.

I appeal to DAP to be fair and give PAS a chance to explain their idealism and I appeal to my fellow non-Muslims to be fair to Islamic religion and lets not fight over misconceptions and disrupt the BA unity at this stage which will effectively blow our chance of toppling BN in the next elections.