What though is essentially the need of the hour is for all to adhere to the Constitution. Our forefathers had drafted a Constitution that spells in no uncertain terms that the religion of the Federation is Islam and NM have the freedom of worship. As long as each stick to their borders and don't encroach on the others, there should be no problem.

Hanipa is a good person and there are many MM leaders who are known to be fair to all races/religions. But we have the misfortune of living also among religious zealots and politicians who ignore the tenets that had held the country in good stead. The problem is twofold - the two parties that represented the NM, MCA and MIC, failed to protect the interests of the NM adequately. Add to this the weak enforcement that allowed such streaks to get carried away.

A closer look will put UMNO in the dock, and not PAS. The dual system of law was not introduced by PAS - it was by UMNO's Mahathir. The "Islamisation" took a different turn when Mahathir was the PM and Anwar was his Deputy. The damage Anwar did then cannot be simply erased away although as a political head of a multiracial party he had mellowed. Mahathir is still going around the town hanging on to his masterpiece which had prompted NM to shun him despite their "forgiveness" to give him a second chance. But leopards don't change their spots, do they?

What is necessary to move this country forward is to have moderate MM leaders, not the kind of Ismail Sabri who says one thing and does another on certain occasions. Voters are now political savvy and the lid on those who believe that race and religion can carry them through nationally are nothing but daydreamers.

For the record, PAS has been openly opposing Oktoberfest from day one despite the fact the festival has nothing to do with Muslims let alone infringe any Muslim rights.

In other words, such a beer festival does not violate any basic rights of any Muslim. If any such infringement occurs, it only implicates the rights and freedom of our non-Muslim brothers and sisters in this country.

Being a Muslim, I may have my own personal opinion on the beer festival but I strongly believe I have no right to show any iota of disrespect to the rights of any non-Muslims who wish to participate in Oktoberfest.

In taking this position, I am duly guided by the firm stand taken by a few renowned Muslim scholars in the past who unhesitatingly upheld the right of non-Muslims to freely practice their own religions.

For instance, the Muslim caliph Imam Ali, in a letter to his appointed governor Malik Al-Ashtar, reminded his appointee of the following apt advice:

"Remember that the citizens of the state are of two categories. They are either your brethren in religion (Muslims) or your brethren in kind (non-Muslims)."

Another exemplary scholar was a Muslim saint by the name of Sheikh Ahmad Zarruq.