Growing potential: Modern farming methods including the use of drones will help the farmers in Kedah hit their targets. — LIM BENG TATT/The Star

LET’S give credit where it’s due.

Previous prime ministers have talked about helping padi farmers, giving endless speeches on how farmers should increase their yield and production.

But it has largely remained empty talk.

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, however, is the first to walk the talk. He has announced an allocation of RM1bil to kick start the “five padi planting seasons in two years” plan from this month, with RM5bil as the overall figure.

The project, covering 11,000ha of fields in the Muda Agricultural Development Authority (Mada) area, is expected to increase padi yield by 15% and the income of 6,100 padi farmers by 43%.

The entire cost of the project, to be carried out in stages, will come up to RM5.376bil and the Federal Government hopes it will be a game changer.

What needs to be mentioned here is that the Mada area is in Kedah, which is under a PAS government.

The population who will benefit, including the farmers, are pre­­do­­minantly Malays who probably support the Islamist state government.

But politics has not been allowed to be a stumbling block to the efforts to improve the livelihood of farmers, who may not even cast a vote for the Madani government.

The PM has rightly put aside politics and focused instead on the potential advantages, including increased productivity within the same amount of time, while increasing the farmers’ income. If successful, it will mean economic stability throughout the years.

Besides helping to reduce the financial instability that often comes with seasonal farming, it could also encourage younger people to take up padi farming as a livelihood and not equate it to poverty.

Modern farming methods, including the use of drones, will help the farmers hit their targets.

Beside training school-leavers to be drone pilots, there will be other jobs created, both directly in farming and in related sectors such as transportation, processing, and marketing.

The spin-off can also include agrotourism, which has been successfully implemented by farmers in Sekinchan, Selangor.

There is no shame in the Kedah farmers learning from their counterparts in Selangor. Joint ventures can also be mooted.

The government has in fact encouraged the use of agricultural technology to boost rice yields through the Ala Sekinchan Large-Scale Smart Padi Field (SMART SBB) programme.

The “five seasons in two years” project will also mean better utilisation of resources, as more frequent planting cycles can lead to more efficient use of land, water, and other agri- cultural inputs. This can maximise the productivity of the available farmland.

It will also help Malaysia reduce its food import bill. Malaysia’s food imports hit RM71.6bil in 2023, with grains and grain products alone making up RM10.84bil.

Imports of animal feed material came up to RM7.85bil, while meat and meat products amounted to RM6.61bil.

We imported 1,358,718 tonnes of rice in 2024 from Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Myan-mar, Pakistan, South Korea, Thai-land, Taiwan, Vietnam, and Spain.

If the Kedah farmers hit their targets, it will help cut our import bills and contribute to national food security by ensuring a more consistent and reliable supply of rice, Malaysia’s dietary staple.

There’s much to be done, though. The farmers will need plenty of support and help for modern farming, including training, infrastructure development, research and development, and market competitiveness.

A huge amount of money has been allocated and there is no room for failure. It will require careful planning, investment in infrastructure, and adoption of advanced agricultural practices.

There are other factors such as water availability, soil health, and climate conditions that must be carefully managed to ensure the success of this initiative.

Most importantly, Kedah must put politics aside, and forget those claims that it has been left out of development.

Dangerous for the waistline: For many Malaysian men, the main sweet loving they are getting is from the sugary drinks and delicious local food. — FAIHAN GHANI/The Star

MOST Malaysian men, adult, older and reasonably better off, must have read with interest and great amusement a report that listed Malaysia as having the third largest number of sugar daddies in Asia.

Malaysia, it seems, has 32,000 sugar daddies – we’re tied with Japan. India tops the list with a whopping 338,000 sugar daddies while Indonesia came in second with 60,250.

As with many postings on social media, one should never take such claims too seriously.

Sugar daddies, of course, refer to wealthy older men who provide gifts and money to younger girls (sometimes boys) in exchange for companionship or sexual favours.

If I am not mistaken, this is the second time this news has gone viral. The survey was said to be carried out by a media company in 10 countries in Asia.

As expected, no one knows the methodology, margin of error, and number of respondents but no one cares in the wild, wild, world of social media. It’s the heading and clicks that matter.

It was also not surprising that Singapore portal 8days.sg put up a follow-up with the heading “Singapore Did Not Make It onto List of Top 10 Asian Countries With Most Sugar Daddies’.’

I am not sure if there was a tinge of regret in the report on Feb 9, which said, almost sadly: “Singapore, however, did not make the cut”.

“While the methodology of the survey was never revealed, netizens suggest that the data had been pulled based on where the users live.

“We can’t help but wonder if this means our population is just too small in comparison or maybe, just maybe, Singaporeans are just not into sugar daddy-baby relationships.

“Though seasia.stats claimed the survey was done by Seeking.com, previously knowing as Seeking Arrangement, the dating site subsequently clarified with 8days.sg that they ‘have not released any statistical data on numbers in Asia’.’’

So we don’t really know if Malaysia has that many sugar daddies. What we know for certain, however, is that we have the highest number of diabetic cases in Asia. Malaysia is in the top five in the world. And we can assume the figures would include many wealthy older men.

It has been reported that Malaysia has the highest rate of diabetes in the Western Pacific region and one of the highest in the world, with approximately one in five adults reporting high sugar readings.

An article by Monash University on Nov 14, 2024, said diabetes in Malaysia was at an epidemic level and described it as alarming. “More than 11% of Malaysians have pre-diabetes, a condition characterised by an elevated blood glucose level.’’

So there you go. Older Malaysian men have bigger sugar problems to worry about.

We are definitely very sweet people, but we also blame the Bangladeshis and Indians at mamak restaurants who continue to bring us sweet, sweet teh tarik despite our continuous instructions for less sugar. “Kurang manis, ya, bang!”

It has now risen to become a serious situation that warrants the attention of the National Security Council. The authorities need to even investigate possible elements of sabotage against Malaysians, with sugar used as a weapon.

Malaysian women are under attack in a different way. It seems Pakistani men are now marrying them, especially the Kelantanese women who are renowned for being attractive.

Kelantan Immigration Department director Mohamed Yusoff Khan was quoted as saying the data is based on the number of applications for Social Visit (Long Term) Passes by foreigners.

So where have all the Kelantanese men gone? Off to Thailand, according to Mohamed Yusoff, to marry Thai women.

We may be the Chair of Asean but this is taking neighbourly love a little too far.

Then there is another ridiculous news report, which was also started on social media and unnecessarily picked up by the mainstream media, which claimed that Kuala Lumpur was the most dangerous city in South-East Asia, and fifth most dangerous in Asia.

This is, apparently, according to Numbeo’s Crime Index 2025. Again, no one knows the criteria for such measurements, which is seriously damaging to Kuala Lumpur and the other cities mentioned. None of the Malaysian media took the trouble to challenge or question the index.

Klang was listed as a dangerous town. It may not be the cleanest nor the best organised but crime-infested? I don’t think so. I am sure there are far worse townships elsewhere.

But Klang certainly is dangerous – for the waistline. The food is dangerously good, especially its famed bak kut teh.

Just about anyone can come up with any claims or surveys on social media and create news out of it. Perceptions and opinions from crowd-based data seem to have become prevalent now.

Malaysians who travel frequently can tell you that Kuala Lumpur is far, far safer than London or Paris where your chances of getting robbed or pick-pocketed are higher.

This would include having your phones snatched or your bags stolen in London’s Underground or in shops.

There is also indifference by the cops or shop security guards there. They often take a “you should have known better’’ attitude, which shouts “you deserve it’’ as you share your frustrations with them.

Then there is the Notting Hill Carnival, an annual Caribbean festival in London where people get beaten up or even killed almost every year. The record of the police in ensuring safety at the parade is pathetic.

Really, we all must learn to be cautious with such social media reports. Take them with a pinch of salt. No sugar, of course.

In harmony: Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah with Tengku Permaisuri Selangor Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin and other leaders joining in the tossing of Yee Sang at Fo Guang Shan Dong Zen Temple in Jenjarom during the recent Selangor Chinese New Year Celebration 2025. — SHAARI CHEMAT/The Star

THE senior Malay Rulers have again risen the occasion, assuring rational Malaysians that they play a crucial and significant role in ensuring religious moderation in this country.

It is most unfortunate that many of our politicians prefer to play safe by remaining silent or make things worse by stoking negative religious and racial narratives when it comes to controversial issues. Both these approaches do not help Malaysia.

Thus it is most encouraging that the Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah spoke up against the proposed guidelines for Muslims attending non-Muslim events, which would have affected his state if eventually adopted.

His Royal Highness said the proposals created uneasiness among the people and disrupted harmony at a time when Malaysians were striving to strengthen national unity.

To walk the talk, the Selangor Ruler attended Chinese New Year celebrations at the Fo Guang Shan Dong Zen Temple in Jenjarom, Selangor. When he signed the commemorative plaque at the temple, Tuanku was flanked by monks and guests.

In a statement released hours before the visit, the Ruler said he believed Muslims were aware of the religious boundaries of their faith and would not be easily influenced as they could discern between good and bad.

Most Malaysians, regardless of their faith, would ensure that their fellow Malaysians would feel comfortable when serving food or drinks at festivals.

It is a given that non-Muslims would ensure that food for Muslims adhere to halal standards while beef is kept away to ensure Hindus can join in and enjoy the food, for example.

Two years ago, His Royal Highness and his son, Raja Muda Tengku Amir Shah, visited the house of the Bishop of the Anglican Church in Sarawak and Brunei, the Right Reverend Datuk Danald Jute. A series of photos were posted showing Sultan Sharafuddin touring the historic Bishop’s House including the library and the chapel. This was widely reported in the Sarawak media.

In 2022, the then Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustaffa Billah Shah and Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Hajjah Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah attended the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II at London’s Westminster Abbey, together with other Muslim leaders.

We ordinary people have always attended funerals or wakes to bid goodbye to people we have known – friends, colleagues, or family members.

It’s the decent and proper thing to do as human beings. We do not expect Muslims to take part in non-Muslim rituals, and vice-versa at such moments.

As a Christian, I have politely declined to use the joss sticks at wakes of Taoists but I bowed to show my respect to the deceased. I have also lost count of the number of times I was present at Muslim burials.

No one has questioned the presence of Muslims at non-Muslim festivals, including religious ones, but for sure they are not expected to take part in rituals, which would be wrong.

In 2023, the Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, attended a luncheon in conjunction with Thaipusam at the Arulmigu Sri Bala Subramaniar Temple in Skudai, Johor.

The post on his Facebook included photos showing the Ruler being welcomed by a huge crowd of devotees at the temple and garlanded by a member of the temple committee.

Just before that, the Johor Islamic religious committee issued a fatwa prohibiting Muslims from attending and taking part in religious rituals of other faiths in the state.

The committee said Sultan Ibrahim had consented to the fatwa, which came into effect on Feb 2. Later the same day, the Ruler said the fatwa did not conflict with interfaith values of tolerance, unity, and understanding as espoused under the “Bangsa Johor” concept.

He clarified that it only prohibits Muslims from taking part in rituals of other religions “but they can still attend festive events of other faiths’’.

Sultan Ibrahim has also in the past attended the annual Chingay procession of the century-old Johor Ancient Temple, which is part of the Chinese New Year celebrations in the state.

The Chingay parade has been a cultural event of the Chinese community in Johor since 1870, and has become one of the symbols of the Bangsa Johor spirit that celebrates the diversity of religions and cultures in the state.

The Sultan of Perak has also consistently spoken about the middle path of moderation in Islam. Sultan Nazrin Shah has said that efforts to foster unity have become even more critical now to counter voices that provoke the people’s emotions in the name of ethnicity or religion, adding that voices that fuel hostility, if left unchecked, had the potential to poison the minds of the people, leading to conflicts, frictions, and divisions.

“After almost 66 years of gaining independence, it is crucial for citizens not to be swayed by hostile voices that can cause disputes,’’ HRH said in a lecture in 2023.

Most politicians have let Malaysians down, allowing political theologians to become an increasingly divisive force, using religion to justify their agenda.

Only our Rulers can tell them off. They are the heads of Islam in their respective states, and their role empowers them to oversee Islamic affairs, ensuring that religious practices and policies align with the principles of moderation and harmony.

Their authority helps prevent extremist interpretations of Islam from gaining traction, as they can influence religious institutions and policies.

Malaysians, especially non-Muslims, regard the Rulers as unifying figures who transcend political and ethnic divisions. Their involvement in religious matters has helped maintain a balanced approach, ensuring that Islam is practised in a way that promotes national unity and social cohesion.

By consistently advocating for moderation, as Sultan Nazrin has done, they help bridge differences between various religious and ethnic groups in multicultural Malaysia.

Whether it is through their speeches, statements, or mere presence at events hosted by the other faiths, the Malay Rulers play a critical role in promoting a moderate and progressive understanding of Islam.

Their constant pronouncements against radical ideologies and emphasis on the importance of peace, tolerance, and mutual respect helps to counteract the spread of extremist narratives that could threaten Malaysia’s social harmony.

While many would like to see more Rulers speaking up, it is sufficiently comforting that the key Rulers have helped maintain a balanced and harmonious approach to Islam, which is essential for Malaysia’s diverse and pluralistic society.

It is common sense that we want to see more Malaysians of various races, religions, and cultures come together and appreciate our differences and similarities, and not find ways to keep us away from each other.

Colourful celebration: Visitors at the annual Fo Guang Shan Dong Zen Temple CNY Lantern and Floral Festival in Jenjarom, Selangor. — CHAN TAK KONG/The Star

IT’S good that the Cabinet has put its foot down and said no to the proposed guidelines for the involvement of Muslims at non-Muslim events. Had they been adopted, approval from religious authorities to attend funerals and celebrations would be required, among other things.

The statement by the Prime Minister was clear: There is no need for guidelines for Muslims visiting non-Muslim houses of worship or events.

He stated that Muslims are already aware of religious guidelines for visiting these sites, particularly about not participating in non-Muslim prayers.

And Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim chose to emphasise his point by visiting Batu Caves Temple on Friday, ahead of the Thaipusam celebrations there on Tuesday.

An earlier joint statement by Senator Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar and Unity Minister Datuk Aaron Dagang was not explicit enough, although they had spelt out that the guidelines are advisory in nature and not policy.

The Cabinet had decided every policy formulated must consider national unity, and must first get its approval.

In short, without saying more, Na’im’s proposed guidelines have been canned. While there was some good advice given to ensure no religious sensitivity complications, there were also impractical guidelines that, unfortunately, led to a backlash.

This is the second gaffe that the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) has made that put the Madani government in an awkward position.

Barely five months ago, the Cabinet rejected a proposal to make halal certification mandatory for restaurants and food companies that do not serve pork or alcohol following Jakim’s idea of making halal certification a requirement for these restaurants. Jakim is the federal government agency that administers Islamic affairs in Malaysia.

The proposal, which was also announced by Na’im, led to an uproar, with Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi having to step in to say that non-Muslim business operators could not and should not be forced to obtain halal certification.

In both cases, Anwar ended up on the receiving end of criticisms, which is unfair since this was a minister’s oversight that had nothing to do with the PM.

Many even think that Na’im is a PKR Member of Parliament when in actual fact he is a senator and not even a PKR member. Worse, it was as though the proposal came from the PM and his government.

Na’im’s blunders have been politically damaging to the PM and the Madani government, as many ordinary citizens do not understand that all religious matters are under the purview of the Rulers. The PM has no power or authority to decide on the proposals made by Na’im in the first place.

When Na’im was appointed the Minister for Religious Affairs by the PM in 2022, there was a sense of relief.

It was felt that the post should be held by a non-politician, and a legal scholar with impeccable credentials.

Na’im is a former lecturer, lawyer, and Syariah Court judge who studied at the International Islamic University before obtaining a Masters in Law from the University of London, and a PhD in Syariah from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.

He has also been a visiting fellow at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies at Oxford University and at Harvard Law School.

Na’im was a refreshing change from the previous person in the post, PAS ideologue Idris Ahmad who was known for hardline views. The Terengganu MP had consistently pushed for hudud laws and the setting up of an Islamic State.

His objections against the staging of the Japanese cultural festival Bon Odori in 2022 earned him a rebuke from His Royal Highness, the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, who warned him not to use Jakim to make “confusing and inaccurate statements’’.

It is understood that the Rulers welcomed the appointment of Na’im as they, too, had lost their trust in a politician minister for religious affairs.

They believed Na’im would be able to bring forward the religious agenda in the context of modern Malaysia.

But instead, he has been placing the Madani government in difficult spots because of his premature statements.

Last week, he announced the proposed guidelines aimed at outlining the participation of Muslims at non-Muslims events, including celebrations. Under the guidelines, there can be no songs or speeches with religious “propaganda” or performances that may insult Muslims.

Organisers of these events would have to seek permission from relevant authorities and the views of Islamic agencies when inviting Muslims for events at a non-Muslim house of worship.

Questions were immediately raised about whether Muslims, including MPs, could pay their last respects at funeral homes or places of worship as a result of such guidelines.

In fact, there are many non-Muslims who have close family members who are Muslims, so this certainly caused confusion.

Do lawmakers then need to get approval from religious authorities to attend Christmas functions or Thaipusam, a Hindu religious affair, and can they approve such requests in the first place?

The guidelines also specified that the events must not be held too close to a surau, mosque, Muslim cemetery, or wakaf (endowment) land, and that the premises should not contain non-Islamic religious symbols.

In his written reply to PAS MP Muhammad Fawwaz Mohamed Jan (Permatang Pauh-PN), Na’im said the guidelines were being updated to prevent incidents which could touch on the sensitivities of Muslims.

Certainly, his intentions seem good and aimed at preventing any untoward incidents, particularly involving the Islamic faith, but Na’im had obviously not thought the guidelines through as Malaysia is a multiracial and multi-religious country.

Perhaps he is not politically savvy, or has forgotten that the Madani government is not a PAS government.

But the question is why was there a need for Na’im to provide so many details – all of which are merely proposed – to an MP from the Opposition when the guidelines have not even been finalised at the Majlis Kebangsaan Islam (MKI) meeting scheduled to be held between Feb 25 and Feb 27.

The MKI, or National Council for Islamic Affairs, is chaired by His Royal Highness the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Raja Azlan Shah.

By his own admission, Na’im reportedly said, “These guidelines are still being deliberated with the engagement of the relevant Islamic authorities that include the State Islamic Religious Councils”.

Following the backlash, Na’im appealed to all quarters not to create misunderstandings by polemicising this issue “to the point of causing public unrest because the underlying purpose of developing these guidelines is noble’’.

Certainly, many of these proposals would be respected by Malaysians of all faiths, but some need further deliberation for practical reasons.

While Na’im has repeatedly said these are proposed guidelines, many have interpreted that to mean these are proposed laws, although guidelines are only advisory in nature. These are serious religious matters.

The most pressing question is whether our leaders, including officials and ministers, are aligned with the Prime Minister’s principles and the vision of the Madani government.

If not, they should leave honourably and join the Opposition.

Over the weekend, Anwar set up good optics by visiting Batu Caves, while last night, the Sultan of Selangor attended a Chinese New Year celebration at the Fo Guan Shan Dong Zen Temple in Klang.

These are positive signs for Malaysia and surely speak volumes for national unity even as some attempt to put up stumbling blocks.

A man for all seasons: The PMX, here speaking in the ‘A Conversation with Anwar Ibrahim’ session at the World Economic Forum in Davos, has worked tirelessly to convince his overseas listeners why Malaysia should be the preferred destination for investments. — Bernama

THE past one year has been good for Malaysia, with enough statistics to show it.

The ringgit has grown stronger, we have sound economic growth, strategic positioning in global supply chains, solid initiatives, and regional cooperation as we increasingly align with Singapore through efforts like the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone.

Malaysia also has robust financial management through Bank Negara Malaysia with stable monetary management.

These combinations of factors have contributed to Malaysia’s commendable economic performance.

But Malaysians also have short memories. We have almost forgotten that we had four prime ministers in a short span of time at one point.

The current Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, has been keeping a steady hand on the tiller despite continuous criticisms from his detractors.

He has worked tirelessly to compete for investments. Certainly, his persuasive skills, charm, and international networking has helped a lot on these missions.

PMX has to convince his overseas listeners that Malaysia should be the preferred destination for investments.

It is interesting that in the Indonesian media – whether mainstream or social media – they have been incessantly asking why Malaysia had been picked over Indonesia in many instances.

Despite claims that PMX’s government has turned authoritarian, the fact that critics could “wallop” the premier without any consequences proves otherwise.

Some from the legal fraternity have continuously criticised him but concealed the fact that they had represented his political opponents or could still receive retention fees.

During the Chinese New Year gatherings, one of the most frequent topics was China’s ability to produce the low-cost AI chatbot, DeepSeek. China deliberately chose to unveil this latest AI model during the Spring Festival celebrations.

Then there was the humanoid robot dance on China Central Television’s Chinese New Year Eve gala show, which has an audience of over 780 million in China annually.

The country has done well because it has remained focused.

Despite the many restrictions placed on Chinese technology companies, it has managed to find a way around them somehow.

There is no time wasted on political squabbles. There is no room for debates or dissension.

Malaysia, on the other hand, struggles with unending political issues with a seeming lack of focus on long-term development.

Politicians have stepped up efforts to play up race and religion issues because they believe a general election could be held next year or by 2027, the latest possible date to hold elections.

So we have politicians drumming up the perception that Malays – the predominant voters – are under siege.

Sponsored social media portals and podcasts hosts have become increasingly louder and critical.

It doesn’t help that some DAP leaders, usually the prime target, also scored own goals without thinking thoroughly before opening their mouths. Their brash statements are easily manipulated by their opponents.

Looking at the politics taking place, unless the components of the unity government can carve out an agreement for the next general election, we may see another round of components contesting against each other.

The last thing Malaysia needs is a repeat of shifting alliances and party-hopping, leading to instability.

Investors have begun to pick Malaysia over Indonesia and Thailand because we are finally seen as politically stable.

Likewise, Malaysia has gained more China tourists during the CNY period compared with Thailand because of our neighbour’s lack of stability.

It is further helped by the visa-free policy, great culinary appeal, pro-environment attractions, and Malaysians’ multilingual ability, including of course cultural familiarity.

A report in Tour and Travel World dated Jan 29 said many China tourists ditched Thailand for Malaysia.

It said Thailand lost out because of safety concerns following high profile cases of Chinese visitors being kidnapped.

The report said Malaysia saw a 79.2% rise in the number of Chinese visitors, many of whom said they felt welcomed in Malaysia.

So it really doesn’t help if myopic politicians continue taking potshots at mighty China and its nationals.

Fortunately, the relationship between Malaysia and China has reached a mature enough level to withstand these irritants.

Malaysia has many good things ahead of us, we can’t afford to be diverted from governance and implemented policies.

For sure, we still haven’t woken up to the fact that ethnic and religious politics are being exploited by some politicians who use them as tools to gain support and not focus on economic and structural reforms.

Political discourse is often about minor and inconsequential issues, which are amplified for no good reason.

Political manoeuvring and theatrics are allowed to dominate the news instead of real issues such as economic competitiveness and innovations.

Then there are weak institutional frameworks where corruption, money politics, and the lack of strong independent institutions allow politicians to prioritise personal and party interests over national development.

Worse, we have politicians who defend the corrupt.

In every election, populist short-term actions are promised, often in the form of subsidies, and handouts, giving the impression that many policies are designed to win elections rather than to ensure sustainable growth.

Many of these handouts, including bonuses, seriously affect our national coffers.

This is perhaps a political reality where the means must justify the ends. But for Malaysia to move forward, to achieve high-income aspirations, we cannot afford inconsistent, flip-flop policies and perceived slow reform efforts.

With a little less than two years to go before the next general election must be held, we can be sure that the national economic agenda will be disrupted by unproductive political rhetoric.

Unfortunately, those who push the race and religion issues, often the worst of the political lot, will continue dominating the headlines.

Malaysia’s strength is the moderate, diverse, and progressive make-up of her wonderful people.

For sure, we cannot allow anyone advocating a theocratic state to be voted in.

We can quarrel over the unity government but the other option is terrifying.

We can’t afford to send the wrong message to the world – and very much to the glee of our neighbouring competitors.