Raja Petra Kamaruddin has written a very troubling piece in his latest note in the Free Anwar Campaign website. ('Political double-speak; one message for the Chinese and another for the Malays', FAC News, Oct 3).

In it he says: "you go to a government mosque, and hear the government-prepared sermon, you will hear the sermon talk about the enemies of Islam; that is, the non-Muslims; and that Muslims must not fall into the 'opposition trap' and become 'divided' lest they become weak and the enemies of Islam push them out of their own country."

"BN talks about racial harmony. BN says only it can guarantee racial harmony and only it is the true multi-racial party. The opposition, alleges the government, is the opposite of all this. But then you go for Friday prayers, and you go to an 'opposition' mosque, and you come home feeling love for your fellow Malaysian. Then you go to a 'government' mosque and you feel hatred towards the 'enemies of Islam'; the non-Muslims."

I would reckon that most non-Muslims - and I am typical - have never ventured or have been interested to find out how exactly the taxpayer's money is used by the religious department to preach to the Muslims. As good citizens, it is not exactly very neighbourly of me to comment on or even eavesdrop on what goes on in a mosque.

However, if indeed the Malaysian taxpayer is paying towards the propagation and preaching of hate by Muslims towards non-Muslims, then should I continue to remain a good neighbour and not comment on it while I can see a fuse being lit that seems targeted to blow me to bits?

I reckon if my contribution to the government's coffers is used to pay for these sermons, then maybe I have every right to demand that these be published for everyone's consumption. After all, anything said within the sanctity of the pulpit should be publishable material.

It would be nice to know what is being said in the mosque that affects the way Muslims view non-Muslims, especially when this is directed by the government itself.

Maybe a malaysiakini reader could tape one of the sermons and have it transcribed for the rest of us to read. If indeed the content of the sermon is as written by Raja Petra, then at least we can ask our own communal leaders to address this matter in cabinet.