I wish to comment on the letter written by Amina ('SIS' struggle reduced to matters of the veil', Aug 15) in which she laments that Islam has been reduced to becoming a matter of wearing the veil. I agree with her.

However, please put blame where it belongs. Malaysian Muslims are forced to adopt the Islamic branch of Islam known as Sunnah-wal-Jamaah which is the same branch practised by Saudi Arabia. So, basically what Saudi Arabian Muslims do, we Malaysians are forced to copy.

In fact, it is a statutory law in Malaysia that any Malaysian who interprets Islam in ways other than Sunnah-Wal-Jamaah are considered deviants and can be jailed. In fact, many Malaysians have already been jailed for being 'deviants'.

There are many Muslims in Malaysia who oppose the forced wearing of the veil and the head scarf. We feel that it is a matter of choice. But what can one do when Malaysian Muslims are forced to do what the Saudi Arabians do?

I am not saying that Malaysian women should denounce the Sunnah-Wal-Jamaah teachings which forbids a freer interpretation of Islam. But what they must understand is that the current practice of Islam in Malaysia is due to the underlying political scenario which exists in Saudi Arabia.

The treatment of women in Saudi Arabia is appalling and unless Malaysian Muslims gain the freedom to interpret the Quran in an intellectual and honest manner, Malaysian Muslim women will always end up as second-class citizens.

And while the USA and Western nations protect the monarchs in Saudi Arabia from being overthrown by the Arab people, there will be no change for the better there. And when there is no change in Saudi Arabia, thus there will be no change in Malaysia either.