Having being at the helm of DAP for more than two decades, veteran opposition leader Lim Kit Siang has failed to realise that his charisma has waned and his reason for remaining in power has outlived its usefulness. Just like many overstaying leaders, Lim is now confronted with the stark reality that the days of Chinese-based opposition parties are over. He has become so familiar as an opposition politician to the point of breeding contempt.

Unlike Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad who can cling on to executive power to extend his hold on power, Lim has nothing like that so he fades away as the younger generation seek new modalities in politics. Lim cannot accept the fact that Malay-based multiethnic politics has emerged, his obsession with DAP's struggle of the past has clouded his sentiments to a point he finds it hard to assimilate the politik alaf baru where Malays have shed their racist ideas to form a viable Malay led-multiethnic party.

Lim fears that if the Chinese, including some ex-DAP leaders, join Keadilan, support for DAP will erode, but he failed to realise that DAP had no answer to the Umno scare tactics and threat of May 13 unrests. Keadilan, on the other hand, has the answer, as all recent attempts by Umno to frighten the Chinese and the Indians with the spectre of May 13 has failed.

It is time Lim calls it a day and let the Chinese in DAP decide their future; they must be given the democratic freedom to join Keadilan, even ex-members. The younger generation wants a multiethnic Malay-based party to rule Malaysia, and Keadilan is the best bet.