In other words, the convictions raise more questions, all pointing fingers embarassingly close to UMNO leaders. There would be, no doubt, a perfectly logical explanation for this. So, why does Dato' Seri Rais huff and puff with threats that give rise to only explanation: that there is something to hide, and loose political talk or reaction, as Mr Nasharuddin's, could point fingers embarrassingly close to home. He, of course, had nothing to say of the Prime Minister's remarkable bout of insanity when he reacted in anger at Kelantan's PAS mentri besar, Tok Guru Dato' Seri Nik Aziz Nik Mat, for suggesting the Al-Maunah treason trial was a 'wayang kulit' (shadow play).

Parliament is not the right place, the Speaker has decided, for such a momentous change in Malaysia constitution to be discussed. The PAS mentri besar of Kelantan, Dato' Ustadz Nik Aziz Nik Mat, is happy at last UMNO comes to PAS' view that Malaysia must be Islamic. The government is happy that its view of an Islamic state can be rammed down people's throats. UMNO espouses the Islamic state because it is the last option it has to wean the Malay who does not accept his cultural leadership as it still the political. But the political leadership frays, and while it can hold on to power with non-Malay support, its legitimacy is then at stake.

In Trengganu, the National Front administration rejected, consistently and for 20 years, a now-retired civil servant's application to build a Catholic church in Kuala Trengganu. A convent there had wanted a multipurpose hall for years, but had been automatically rejected. Now that PAS is in power there, the convent has its multipurpose hall, and the retired civil servant the permission to build his church. In neighbouring Kelantan, similar stories abound: the Hindus in South Kelantan had applied for permission to build a temple in Gua Musang; the PAS state administration had approved it in 1978, but the National Front forced it out that year, but would not allow the temple to be built; when PAS returned to power in 1990, it promptly approved it, telling the committee it had done so in 1978. The mentri besar, Dato' Nik Aziz Nik Mat, has asked priests of churches and temples, Buddhist and Hindu, to spruce up their places of worship, even offering financial help when the cost is too much to bear.

A management buyout is proposed for Keloil, which runs at a loss but which has a lien on petroleum and gas found in and off Kelantan. That is seen as a power play by Petronas to have it injected into Petronas via a listed company. The details are hazy, but it does appear the current problem the mentri besar, Dato' Nik Aziz Nik Mat, has with the Sultan is directly and indirectly related to this development. The UMNO-sponsored KPAF is solidly behind the ruler; it would to destabilise PAS. When it cannot get political power through the ballot box, it looks for opportunities to blacken whoever is in power. Meanwhile, there is also a move to build a major port at Tumpat, as a step-off point for produce from Cambodia and Laos. This, I am told, could cost as much as a billion ringgit.

But when the Kelantan mentri besar, 'Tok Guru Nik Aziz Nik Mat, cautioned women about their skimpy women's dresses, cabinet ministers forcing men to commit adultery, in fact and in the heart, women's groups, UMNO politicians rushed in where fools would not. It was a storm in a teacup in which the uproar is forced not on what he said but what he would have. And like all storms, it disappeared as quickly as it had begun. Political correctness required he be attacked. And he was. When the chief justice says some stupidity which is worse since it reflects upon the decorum of the court and the standing of the judiciary, there is not a beep. Instead, the deputy prime minister, Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi tells us about how fair and just the courts are. The 'Tok Guru should be condemned for what he said; but the chief justice's stupidities reflect the impartiality of Malaysian justice. Where are all those groups incensed with what the Kelantan mentri besar said about women? Why have they not challenged the chief justice's statement? Or is the PAS leader attacked because it is politically wise to do so, and not the chief justice because he dispenses injustice?

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