There was an amusing letter yesterday: Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad might be pardoned by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, but he would never escape the laws of syariah, one Abdul Hamid Lalani told us ([#1]No one is immune under syariah laws[/#], April 4). And as a result, if found guilty, one of Mahathir's hands would be cut off!

I imagined Mahathir with one of his hands cut off. I had to laugh.

The writer also reminded us that other Yang Berhormats, most of whom, as we know, are corrupt, would also lose their limbs. Imagine: All the YBs running around (or rather crawling around) without limbs?

I'm no fan of Mahathir, but cutting his hand? The writer must be crazy to even suggest such barbarous punishments. Those who doubt its barbarous nature, may click [#2]here[/#] (Warning: The pictures show Taliban fighters parading the amputated limbs of the convicted robbers; not for the squeamish).

Perhaps lopping limbs is a normal practice in Pakistan (the writer's current place of abode), which incidentally even lacks a functioning government, but I don't think it befits Malaysia. We are civilised - fortunately!