In reference to your article PUM-led groups slams media for 'insulting Islam trend, I wish to point out that Malaysians are tired and weary of the culture of fear and intimidation evident in the persecution of writers accused of "denigrating" Islam.

We advocate that the culture of the "right to differ" in an open and respectful manner be actively protected and promoted in Malaysia.

We are tired of the repetitive slander hurled against these writers by their detractors in the media. Defying the Islamic tradition of holding dialogue to settle disputes amicably, their detractors arrogantly ignored the pleas of Malaysians urging them to settletheir differences with the writers amicably.

Instead, the promoters of fear and intimidation launched a prolonged media offensive against these individuals by repeating in the media selective phrases that were taken out of context and distorting the true spirit of their work.

One can never do justice to a writer or a speaker by merely judging him or her by the written or spoken excerpts that were craftily chosen coupled with denigrating comments designed to incite hate that were highlighted time and again in the media.

Nor can one ignore the contributions of these writers in defending Islam, promoting better race relations, and alleviating the sufferings of Muslim women in a religious court run by men in Malaysia.

Malaysians, who never got the chance to read the original articles or hear the entire speeches of these individuals, will tend to pass a "guilty-as-charged sentence" in their minds.

As such, the lives of these persecuted individuals and their families become a harrowing experience in our country. We will never know the extent of the psychological torment that they underwent given the highly emotional nature of the charge.

It defies logic that these citizens who have invested their time and energy with the intention to promote a better understanding of Islam or more specifically, the lived experiences of Islam as opposed to Islam, the revealed religion, would deliberately "distort the truth about Islam" or " belittle Islamic figures" in a country with a Muslim majority.

To embark on a warring path with those in dispute resulting from our failure to pitch ideas with ideas is not our answer to promote social harmony or enhance the image of Islam in our country and abroad. As a multi-religious and multi-racial country, it is in ourbest interest that the prevailing culture of fear and intimidation be replaced with the culture on the "right to differ" in an open and respectful manner.