Kuala Lampur, July 12 -- In our multi-faceted plural society of diverse ethnic groups and religious composition, the task of maintaining harmony and peaceful co-existence demands constant rigour and commitment.

Malaysian society's experience and appreciation to protect social harmony and peaceful co-existence has however been based largely on the strength and rigour of political and spiritual institutions maintaining regulations and the enforcement of law and order on its subjects.

It has led to an unhealthy and sometimes overzealous dependence on laws and punishments to detect and deter infringements that are deem to destabilise the social order.

This has brought unintended consequences of abuse of laws and politically motivated prose...