I generally agree with Azly Rahman that any form of religious belief, whether Islam or otherwise, or even a form of secular moral ethics, will make this a better world.

However, I feel certain things like women's equality in employment, decision-making and their non-exploitation are necessary and we can't continue with beliefs which relegate women to a position dominated and exploited by men.

Having been educated in Britain, I earlier was one of those Eastern elites who believed in a total licence to do anything. But when I see the world we live in today with its chaos and crass material acquisitiveness (or what is often referred to as 'materialism'), I realise we took the wrong path since the 'swinging 60s'. There has to be a change.

All the corruption, nepotism, cronyism, consumerism and senseless building and more building in Malaysia all have roots in this material acquisitiveness and the worship of money. A reversion to a more spiritual, philosophical and ethical way of living can only be good for society and the country.

What Azly refers to are the worst aspects of moribund capitalism which promotes senseless consumption and decadence to keep the wheels of the capitalist economy turning locally and worldwide.

Despite its illusions of freedom, individualism and non-conformity, the rock culture is a money spinner for the captains of the music industry, just as are pornographic, violent and sensationalist films from Hollywood and elsewhere.

In reality, these things keep us as mentally-bound cultural slaves to the capitalist/imperialist music and film industries, while mistakenly believing we are free and 'not a part of the system'. In reality, our souls are completely sold to the system - the capitalist system.

Indeed, as Azly pointed out, these are the forces of Mammon. Capitalism is mammon - the devil incarnate.