The confusion among non-Muslim Malaysians regarding an Islamic state is not at all surprising. After all, the practice of Islam in this country by and large excludes this group, giving rise to an understandable fear of the unknown.

What disturbs me, however, is the resistance from Muslims themselves.

Some are just uncomfortable with the very concept, but a few even rejects the notion outright. These vocal segments of the Malays seem to be the ones who like to call themselves "liberal Malays".

Pardon me for saying this, but could it be that they are opposed to the idea because they have something to lose?

By their own definition, these "new" Malays tend to be Western-educated or have been exposed to Western values. Over time, they have come to embrace Western-style liberalism as an ideal.

This leads them to be more tolerant of certain issues than the "traditional" Malays. In fact, so tolerant and liberal are some of them that they support the individual's right to homosexuality, sexual promiscuity and consumption of alcohol.

All of which, of course, are grave sins in Islam. Not to mention that supporting or indulging in those activities would immediately disqualify one as a "Malay" according to our Constitution.

More to the point, under Islamic laws, no Muslim will be allowed to - among others - consume alcohol, indulge in extra-marital sex, or be gay and proud of it. Is it any wonder then that some are riling in protest?

Now, even Malay liberals who aren't so extreme still seem to dislike the notion of an Islamic judiciary. Many see it as a draconian law.

This is only to be expected, I suppose, since their liberal philosophy compels them to reject notions that restrict the freedom of individuals to do whatever they like.

Their underlying belief is that everyone - Muslim or not - is responsible for his or her own actions. Thus, all should be allowed to do whatever they want. After all, you're the one who has to deal with the consequences. So indulge and be answerable to God, then.

But they forget that the only logical conclusion of such an open attitude is the creation of a new twin-cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. And, hey, guess what happened to them?

Like a friend of mine likes to say, if you condone homosexuality or do nothing to stop it, then what's to stop you from turning an equally blind eye to bestiality or paedophilia?

I can already hear that other group - the self-proclaimed moderate Malay liberals - protesting. Well, look, there is no use arguing about it.

If you subscribe to a liberal outlook, then you disqualify yourself from rejecting the right of others to indulge in their individual perversities. Because once you do, you are already discriminating against others. And what kind of liberal discriminates, right?

The point I am trying to make is this: The concept of a liberal Malay - moderate or otherwise - must be based on a definite acceptance of Islamic principles.

If there is a fundamental distinction between Western philosophies and Muslim ideals, it is this: The former starts with a baseline of zero, where everything goes. All is left to reason and moral behaviour of the day, while God or the concept of God is taken out of the equation entirely.

This is unacceptable to a Muslim. A Muslim, on the other hand, must start a few slots higher because the basic tenets of Islam dictate that some things are allowed while some are banned. These basic truths cannot change.

Hence, if you are a Muslim - liberal or whatever - there should not be any arguments along the lines of "should we or shouldn't we?" with regard to the implementation of an Islamic state.

Instead, the only argument could only be, "how do we?"