I couldn't but feel compelled to respond to Susan Loone's article on 'Black Metal jammin in the philosopher studios', (July 25). Being away from our home country, I have come to depend daily on malaysiakini's writings (of course, many of Susan's, too) to get in touch with the happenings at home.

I couldn't but agree with Susan that our prime minister has often employed Machiavellian techniques to divert the nation's attention away from many front-line newsworthy issues.

But, to agree with Susan's claim that youths indulging in occult practices are merely manifestations of a society or community that is lacking and has gone wrong in various areas is perhaps just a bit too much for me to bear.

To God's children, the above statement can only mean that the writer has not understood God's teaching enough, and wrongfully pointed her fingers towards many possibly well-intentioned politicians and theologians on this subject matter. The writer has forgotten the fact that almost all theologians, in the core, recognise that all of us are wretched sinners apart from God.

Supported with sound doctrines, and deep convictions, no theologians would agree that the solution to cult practices can be accomplished through the mere fixing of institutions and politicians' ills.

With much of the country's mainstream media already being silenced by society's ill, I sincerely hope that malaysiakini can one day represent something more than what it is today. But, as of today, it seems that malaysiakini has still got a long way to go when it comes to the issue of quality to be highlighted in your editorial features or opinions. Press on!