While opposition MP for Pokok Sena, Mahfuz Omar is right to expose the 'scandalous' decision of the EPF in so-called haram investments, in his role as a PAS MP, can we see the EPF in a broader perspective? What is EPF and who are its contributors?

I see this as another opposition ploy to confuse the government and to prey on the racial harmony that has been enjoyed for so long. Their reasoning - by investing in companies that produce haram products (alcohols, gambling, tobacco), the government would get haram returns. So if the government is tolerant and wise, it should not fall into this kind of 'trap'.

Firstly, what is haram about these companies (Genting, BAT, Guinness Anchor)? Don't they have licence to operate, obtained from the government? Do they have links to illegal organisations that endanger national security?

The government, by giving them licence to operate in Malaysia, recognises the legitimacy of these organisations and agree to what they do.

Secondly, if the returns from haram companies are also haram, no Muslim should work for these companies because the salaries would also be haram. The whole industry (from production and transportation to storage) should have no Muslim workers.

The government should not tax these companies because of the same reason. Or, if they were taxed, the money should be used only for the benefit of those who use these haram products.

The argument that we should not support the production of these goods because they are health and social hazards, is just an excuse. Every year, thousands of Malaysians become victims of accidents caused by products of the automobile industry, not to mention being forced to breathe in the hazardous gases emitting from motor vehicles. So if the 'health hazard' argument is accepted, then we should also ban any investment on automobile companiesl like Proton and Perodua.

To give up an investment with good returns just to justify the declaration of Islamic state, as stated by the premier, is not a logical step to take. The government should be more careful in its policy implementation so as not to easily fall into the opposition 'trap' and later being criticised by its own quarters.