Are we a secular state in the sense that the laws governing us and our way of life are free from religious influence? We cannot seem to be able to agree on this.

The constitution says that Islam is the religion of the federation. As a Muslim, I am governed by the syariah. The head of the country and that of each state is a Muslim; in their regalia are Islamic symbols. Islamic prayers are said in Parliament. The first principle of the Rukunegara is 'Kepercayaan kepada Tuhan'. The list can go on. Islam pervades every aspect of a Muslim's life in Malaysia.

Given all this, from my perspective this is a Islamic/Muslim country. However, this would not be applicable to a non-Muslim. All the laws that govern them by and large are non-religious laws - quite rightly, from their point of view, the country is a secular one.

Therefore, I would contend that we are both an Islamic and a secular country depending on where one is looking from and this is totally acceptable to me.

However, I would not agree with the Malaysian secularist that 'religion, religious principles and religious dogmas do not influence the business of governance'.

This would imply that non-Muslims in Malaysia do not let their religion or culture influence their lives and values. I believe that for the vast majority of Malaysians of whatever faith, their religion is inimical to their make-up as a citizen.

Whatever the secularists may say, I do not think non-Muslims here are going to stop wearing their religious symbols in public, or stop having public holidays for their religious festivals.

In fact, you would find many couples who get married do not consider themselves really married until they have undergone their religious and cultural marriage rites despite having had a civil registration.

Even our road transport rules makes exemptions for Sikh men on motorcycles from wearing safety helmets in recognition of their beliefs. And then we have the recognition of customary/ native rights and laws.

All this goes to show that even from the secular perspective, we can still see how religion is still a very vital part of the citizens' make up.

I therefore would not be surprised that if we seek to legalise abortion, the first to object would be our secularists.

Whatever one says, I still think that we are still religious people and religion impacts much of our lives and whatever is said and done, it is because of this that we have unity in our diversity. What the secularists want is unity through uniformity and this, Muslims will not accept.