AS peace-loving Malaysians, we are appalled at Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat's
                  recent statement implying the Chinese community is responsible for most of
                  the vices in this country.

                  This is another glaring example of a tok guru who is revered by his followers for
                  his religious knowledge, but who fails miserably in his understanding of worldly
                  affairs and social problems that afflict humans.

                  Making such sweeping comments associating a segment of society with a
                  particular social ill reflects the lack of knowledge of the Kelantan Mentri Besar
                  in the country's intricate social structure, the historical and cultural background
                  of its people, and its political make-up.

                  As a religious personality who heads a state administration, Nik Aziz is
                  expected to be well versed in the temporal affairs just as he is known for his
                  spirituality.

                  By looking at Kelantan, it is obvious Nik Aziz does not know what he is talking
                  about.

                  His state suffers from being the country's poorest and most backward economy
                  besides the many vices, robberies and other cases of crime and AIDS and the
                  fact remains that it is a Malay-majority state.

                  Does this mean the vices in Kelantan are caused by the Chinese community
                  alone and the Malays are all so well disciplined and morally upright that they
                  commit no sin at all?

                  Maybe we should ask Nik Aziz as to who issued all the licences and permits
                  for the liquor shops, gambling dens and hotels with nightclubs belonging to the
                  Chinese.

                  He must get his facts right before opening his mouth for this is not the first time
                  he has made such an insensitive comment.

                  In 1995, he described the three religious-educated Umno candidates contesting
                  in state seats as terompah kayu (insignificant) and in another instance berated
                  a mufti as mulut berus (being petty) and that the mufti was only good at issuing
                  fatwas (edicts) concerning women's menses and childbirth.

                  If Nik Aziz has no qualms in belittling his own religious peers even though they
                  belong to a different political party, then it is no surprise that he is capable of
                  saying things which will hurt the feelings of other races.

                  This is the kind of ulama that PAS has and Nik Azlz is not a stand-alone case.

                  They are the type of politically-motivated religious figures in the party which
                  harps on the faults and vices of others but fails to look at their own
                  inadequacies.

                  As a multi-racial, multi-cultural and multi-religious society, we expect politicians
                  who aspire to be leaders to first understand the country's historical, cultural,
                  religious, and political background.

                  When they fail to do so, we get products such as Nik Aziz who makes
                  statements without careful consideration that may cause racial unease within
                  our society and fear of friction between the various races in the country

                  We do not need politicians who hide in the garb of religion to lead us into
                  fanaticism and sectarianism.

                  What we really need are leaders who have vision for the people and the country
                  and who exhort respect for one another and not promote disunity.

                  JOEY AND FRIENDS, Petaling Jaya