I wish to refer to Lilian Tan's letter Polygamy - moral leadership lacking.

While it is true what Tan says about our lack of moral leadership and inadequate protection for Muslim women and children in many situations, allow me to objectively point out a few points in Tan's piece, which, in my view, amount to inaccuracies.

In countering the argument that Muslim men who would rather take mistresses than legally marry a second wife if laws on polygamy are changed, Tan compared this situation to policemen who would be less open in stopping vehicles for bribes if penalties are harsher for corrupt policemen.

Tan failed to note that in the former case, polygamy is a right, by the laws of this country and by the religion of Islam, whereas corruption is wrong according to the law, religion, morals, ethics or what have you.

Tan also called for the establishment of a climate of intolerance for men who take more than one wife since this has been proven to work in discouraging smoking and burping loudly in public places.

Again, Tan failed to note that polygamy is a right of Muslim men by law and religion, while smoking has no standing under law, religion in this country. Had smoking been recognised as an integral part of any religion or law, society most likely would not have established any climate of intolerance for this activity.

For example, in societies (including some parts of our society) where burping is considered a mark of gratefulness for the meal one had just eaten, burping loudly in public is not considered rude and no move is made to create a climate of intolerance for burping loudly in public.

I myself do not favour polygamy, smoking or burping loudly in public. This letter is purely meant to point out the facts written above.