No matter what your religion is or, perhaps, you are an atheist or agnostic, I wish you all happy Deepavali! But beware of a ghost - the 'halal food' sentiment.

Some of you may experience an episode like this: some of your Muslim friends refuse to take the food you serve when they visit, even if you assure them that it is halal. The like sentiment is, indirectly, generated by the government, in the wake of the Islamisation move.

It is certainly politically motivated because while the government overzealously Islamise every aspect of the Malay-Muslims' daily life, it has forgotten the fountain of the Islamic principles - love, mercy and compassion that must prevail in all circumstances.

The non-Muslims are not invited to appreciate Islam as a religion of love. Nor are the Muslims encouraged to appreciate the non-Muslims' religious teachings for fear of their deviation from the 'right path' (rosak akidah).

The damage has been done. The society is divided more and more into a dichotomy of Malay-Muslim and non-Malay-Muslim segments. Inter-racial and inter-religious relationship is now at stake.

Friends, we must take steps to cement the gap as soon as possible, and as shrewd as we can. For example, an NGO, Insaf (Interfaith Spiritual Fellowship) prepared vegetarian food in the mosque for the Hindus, Buddhists and Taoists when the inter-faith functions were held there.

I think now is the time for us to learn more about what halal food is as defined by the Islamic authority. Never mind if the interpretation is not as authentic and as holistic as it should be. It is what the de jure Muslim scholars believe and their interpretations that matter. Do not let the quibble of food divide us more and more, please!