In response to Syed Hassim's ('Islam is a way of life', Oct 19), it is true that Islam promotes peace. But so do all major religions.

Indeed, most religions have one thing in common, that is how to live in peace with other people. The issue is not whether Osama bin Laden is guilty of the WTC and the Pentagon bombings. It is a known fact that Osama is a supporter of terrorism and has also publicly called for such acts to be committed against the US (the threat of more rain of planes from the sky, for example).

And where was Osama when free Muslims in Kuwait were oppressed by their fellow Muslims from Iraq?

It also must be taken into consideration that while Malaysia is a country with Islam as the religion of the federation (thus a Muslim country) but it is also a democratic country. Malaysians must take into consideration, too, of other religions that is practiced in the country (even though Muslims may be the majority, 45 percent of the population are not Muslims, and that is indeed a sizeable figure).

The issue of separation of power is not about whether religion is a way of life, but also about ensuring the rights of each religion. Malaysia as a Muslim country can have Islam as its official religion, but as a democracy, Malaysia must ensure that other religions are not suppressed, and also ensure that Islamic laws cannot be forced upon non-Muslims.

As the saying goes, every rose has its thorns. Every religion has its zealots and misfits. Is Islam any different? Will implementation of Islamic laws solve all our problems?