Despite DAPs loss in the Ketari state seat by-election as expected, the Barisan Alternatif must be commended for taking a principled stand in calling for opposition unity. It was not an easy task.

Many ordinary Muslims have been alienated and disappointed by DAP's many insensitive and inconsiderate public utterances in the last few years. It has been seen to be more MCA than MCA and more Gerakan than Gerakan in its prejudice against PAS, Keadilan and PRM. DAP's negative image is its own making. Don't blame others anymore.

Yet many BA Malay Malaysian leaders and supporters came out to persuade Malay Malaysian voters to forgive and forget for the sake of democracy and human rights. BA has done its best given the circumstances and its due to DAP's own folly that it lost.