While Dr Mahathir Mohamad's recent statement regarding Malaysia as an Islamic state is clearly propagandist, PAS' proposition is itself nothing but a doctrine to lure more Malay voters into their fold.

It is disappointing that people such as Aman Rais ('Ego Kit Siang, Karpal keluar BA', 27 Sept) failed to understand the deep fear of non-Muslims regarding the abolition of the separation of state and religion. To illustrate this, according to the former National Human Rights Society (Hakam) president T Ramdas, for any country to be a theocratic state, "the source of law would have to based on religious edicts". The problem is: Who issues these edicts?

The Taliban have their ways of misinterpreting the teachings of Islam and one hard look at the world around us shows that misinterpretation of the teachings and the misappropriation of Islam by the present 'Islamic states' are more common than exceptional.

Show us just one Islamic state in the world that is democratic, just, and where citizens of all faiths are encouraged to practise their own religions; show us one contemporary ruler of an Islamic state who is truly moralistic and enlightened; show us evidence that there will be no acceleration of proselytisation once an Islamic state is established.

While one may claim that a lot of these so-called Islamic states imposed a distorted version of Islam, show us that the 'correct' version can be instituted there.

For those who are not too short in memory, remember that it is only a few years ago that PAS tried to table a legislation that will convict a Muslim who chooses to abandon his faith with the death penalty.

All great religions that have stood the test of time share a common denominator, that is "to do good and to refrain from evil". Regardless of the higher purpose of these religions, whether it is to strive for a union with God, to return to the paradise of God, or to attain a state of Nirvana, why can't we spend our energy to promote this common purpose and to encourage everyone to practise their religions faithfully?

I can assure our Muslim brethren that a good Buddhist or a good Christian is no less moralistic than a good Muslim.

While trying to persuade non-Muslims to accept the vision of an Islamic state, why don't the proponents of this vision take a hard look at other religions and their teachings?

The great Thai Buddhist monk Ajahn Chah said "all religions are like different cars all moving in the same direction. People who don't see it have no light in their hearts".

The goal of an Islamic state proposed by PAS is clearly a political goal. If not, it is a narrow religious goal.

I would like to invite those who promote the establishing of an Islamic state to show us by their own conduct that they can live up to the tolerance and open-mindedness they claim to possess. If they are successful, perhaps they will see that a just and moral world is possible without imposing their visions on everybody else.