I read with interest the comments by New Malaysian ('DAP too obsessive with Islamic state'). However, as one who is deeply concerned about the Islamic state issue, I must express my disappointment at Keadilan's failure to categorically oppose any form of Islamic state, unlike the DAP.

Don't Keadilan leaders realise that an Islamic state is unsuitable for a society that is largely multi-racial and multi-religious? One would have hoped that a multi-racial party like Keadilan would have been more vocal in rejecting the concept of an Islamic state, which essentially undermines rather than promote multi-racialism.

While it is true that PAS on its own is unable to win enough parliamentary seats to capture federal power and set up an Islamic state, nevertheless the increasing competition between PAS and Umno to out-Islamise each other should be cause for concern. Such politicisation of religion can only hamper our efforts to improve racial and religious integration.

Moreover, it is erroneous to equate opposition to an Islamic state as anti-Islamic. Why should this be so? If that be the case, Tunku Abdul Rahman who disapproved of Malaysia being made an Islamic state would have been branded anti-Islamic, a fact pointed out, I think, by the DAP chairperson Lim Kit Siang.

For those who are worried that opposition to an Islamic state would offend Muslims, isn't the opposite also true? Haven't proponents of an Islamic state considered that their constant harping on the issue is not also offensive to non-Muslim Malaysians?

I, for one, dearly hope for the day when a truly viable multi-racial opposition party or front, which can serve as an alternative to the BN government, can be forged. But until and unless the right conditions exist, I am afraid we still have to wait for the dream to materialise.