COMMENT Moderation is the goal of our Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and to achieve it we have to practise moderation in everything we do.

Moderation as a philosophy is particularly suited for a multi-ethnic society like ours.

Having two kinds of trolleys in supermarkets is not practising moderation at all. It is taking things too far.

It further divides people along religious lines.

What will be next on the exclusive list - halal and non-halal banknotes and coins, halal and non-halal public toilets, halal and non-halal hospital beds, halal and non-halal cashiers, halal and non- halal dentists, halal and non-halal hotels and so forth?

The list is endless if we walk down that path.

It will lead to a creation of a exclusive class of Muslims, even among Muslims.

Eventually this class of Muslims will not even shake hands with other less ‘halal Muslims’, let alone with non-Muslims!

They will become an exclusive breed of people if we start practising separatism and exclusivity.

We have to stop such religious separatist tendencies because it will destroy our unity and our path to moderation.

Eventually it will be impossible to coexist in harmony between Muslims and non-Muslims and between Muslims and dissenting Muslims who don’t subscribe to their strict rules.

For a long time, Muslims and non-Muslims had co-existed without such rules. But now these rules that separate us are given credence.

Fanatics of other religions will soon be asking for similar rules. Just wait and see!

C SIVARRAAJH is MIC Youth leader.