The retirement of former Kota Melaka MP and DAP secretary-general is a great loss to the DAP. Kerk Kim Hock has been a unifying factor in the DAP. Factionalism in the DAP had become so serious recently that the party is a ticking 'time bomb' to explode soon. With the departure of Kerk. there is no one in the DAP who will able to hold back disgruntled members from expressing their frustration openly.

DAP will pay a heavy price for the loss of Kerk. The DAP leadership should respect Kerk's decision to retire because he said he had 'suffered' enough while serving the party. During his tenure as the secretary-general, he brought positives changes to the DAP, including making the party more transparent and building up young cadres.

Who after Kerk?

The DAP will have to find a replacement for Kerk and several names have be mentioned. Among them are the MP for Bukit Mertajam, Chong Eng, the MP for Cheras, Tan Kok Wai and party chairman Lim Kit Siang's son Lim Guan Eng.

Chong Eng has declared that she not suitable because she a woman and according to her it is a man's job. Kok Wai sounds very reluctant and that leaves the third choice, Guan Eng.

Whatever the scenario, the DAP has lost a great leader in Kerk Kim Hock as these kind of leaders don't come by every now and then. Its DAP's loss. I wish you a 'Happy Retirement,' Kerk and may you have a healthy and long life.