Barisan Nasionals victory in the Ketari state seat by-election yesterday is no big deal. Given the concentration of huge resources and biases in the media, DAP did in fact fight a good fight. I am sure DAP as an experienced party will see democratic participation as an ongoing and unending process. There are always tomorrows.

In other words, the world will not end with one electoral defeat.

With patience, sincerity and impartiality, it should draw detailed lessons, both positive and negative, from the experiences. It should analyse the strengths and weaknesses of the party's machinery, and the changes in the larger situation as well as the image and impression it has given to non-party diehards in recent years.

It should avoid unnecessarily pessimism and emotionalism. Neither should its leaders, members and supporters (real ones) fall into the psychological trap of emotional outburst, and in the process make more enemies than friends.