In 'Accept Islamic state not feasible, Kit Siang tells PAS' (July 17) DAP chairperson Lim Kit Siang said it best when he said "that PAS' education campaign to educate the people on its Islamic state concept was based on the 'mistaken premise that those who are opposed to the concept, whether Muslim or non-Muslim, were misled by their lack of understanding of Islam'.

When holding on to the firm notion that the Islamic state was a non-starter in Malaysia, in my own previous arguments, even if it was confined to my head, I always had this mistaken notion that maybe I did not know enough of Islam or PAS' concept of an Islamic state to support my stand.

In reality, even after knowing all that needs to be known about Islam, if I were to continue to refrain from supporting the Islamic state, PAS and the supporters of the Islamic state will continue to dismiss my stand as one being made by someone who lacks understanding and, therefore, not qualified to assess their beliefs.

Surely, between now and the day I die, I can never, however, hard I tried, get to know and understand Islam as much as the Muslims in Umno. How on earth, therefore, does PAS expect that by its education efforts it can convince me and others like me who are not Muslims and may never be and at the same time opposed to an Islamic state, that the Islamic state is what is best for us?

PAS has to remember that the Islamic state examples that we see today are not exactly exemplary of a sinless institution.

We have all heard and read of the vices of the Saudis in their heyday in London, Europe and Bangkok, too.

We hear of the suffering and the insubordination of women in Iran and Afghanistan. And in some of what has been introduced in Kelantan and Terengganu we see the acknowledgement and accommodation for animalistic instincts in their men.

How else does one argue the need for the separate queue lines in the supermarkets for women? How else does one argue for the strict dress code required of women? In the non-religion that I profess, my respect for women does not permit me any lust for every other woman who walks down the street showing any amount of skin.

When it is so easy for PAS to dismiss those against its idea to set up an Islamic state as not being qualified because of the lack of understanding, there is no assurance to anyone who subsequently refuses to submit to its plans that he or she can have a say in any Islamic rule.

Does PAS envisage an Islamic rule where the ruled shall be at the mercy of the rulers? Where the right to practise our own way of life and religious observations is a privilege into rather than a right? And if so, that they do it only because the Quran binds them to?

Obviously they cannot see themselves as equals to non-Muslims. For that matter, they see themselves even superior to Muslims who are not of their persuasion. The trouble with the leaders of PAS is that when they want to talk they come off as Muslim leaders.

PAS president Fadzil Noor is best advised that we the non-Muslims as well as Muslims opposing the Islamic state do not need any Islamic education. Maybe he can come down from the high pedestal that he has placed himself on and if he is willing, I shall only be too glad to educate him about my 'religion'. As much as he thinks we should all have some knowledge of Islam, is it not too much to expect that he too understands other religions or ways of life?