I refer to the recent disagreement between DAP and Keadilan over seat negotiations, held to ensure straight one-to-one fight with BN in the coming general elections.

As a life member of DAP, I would suggest that the central executive committee adopts the following strategies to keep its credibility as a political party with a long and illustrative history:

  • Be prepared to continue with discussions with Keadilan, subject to Keadilan being genuinely interested to avoid three-cornered fights with the BN. However, if Keadilan is trying to push DAP against the wall without any fair consideration for a party which has consistently secured on average 20 percent of popular votes in past general elections, disengage from the negotiation gracefully and go it alone in the coming elections.
  • In the meantime, prepare the party election machinery. DAP's political stand is very clear. Its fortunes would be much better this time around compared to the previous elections when its ties with Keadilan and PAS, in particular, weighed heavily against it. Non-Muslim urban voters would be more likely vote for DAP for its clear stand on the Islamic state issue compared to Keadilan's - which is neither here nor there.

  • If three-cornered fights are unavoidable with Keadilan playing the spoiler in the coming general election, so be it. It probably has not learnt their lesson even after its candidate lost his deposit in the Gaya by-elections in Sabah. Keadilan may be thinking it will be able to get sizeable support from the urban area with the presence of the political 'hot head' Tian Chua. Let the next general election be a lesson to them that political struggle is not so simple and Keadilan is still a political baby.

If Keadilan does not face reality, if it thinks that the whole nation is waiting for it to liberate the country from the BN, it will be heading for humiliation in the coming elections.

The results of the next general election are a foregone conclusion - BN will win. What really matters now is the margin of victory.

If there is genuine interest in improving the performance of the opposition parties to reduce the BN's two-thirds majority - which should be the first step in an effort to eventually unseat the BN - it will only be possible if opposition parties do not contest against each other.

Keadilan cannot expect DAP to give up its traditional areas of support to a new untested party (which may follow the footsteps of Semangat 46 should it perform badly in the elections).

After all, the majority of Keadilan members were former Umno members (just like those of Semangat 46).

Besides, most people do not really know what Kedailan stands for besides freeing former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim from prison. It cannot be denied that Anwar was very unfairly treated. But that alone will not win the next elections for Keadilan, particularly in the urban areas. Its candidates may get some support in the suburbs due to the influence of PAS.

Let common sense and goodwill prevail before disaster strikes the opposition again due to its own doing. BN is now happily watch the spats between DAP and Keadilan.

Keadilan should check with its actual 'leader' Anwar as to whether he really wants Keadilan to replace the DAP in the urban areas. Anwar may be more sensible and realise that it would be in Keadilan's interest to be friendly with DAP and not the other way around.

PAS may retain its traditional support to a certain extent in the next general election, but it is not likely to improve on its last performance which was probably the best in its history.