Ex-bachelor DAP must remember present marital status
1) it promotes inter-ethnic and inter-religious understanding and mutual empathy in the struggle for democratic change;
2) it is a synergy that mobilised the people of all races and religions to fight against injustices; and
3) it potentially provides hope for an alternative government.
It is for these reasons that I consider myself a supporter of BA.
However, there are still technical and operational problems to be solved through much more honest brainstorming and sincere mutual consultation among leaders, especially established and old DAP leaders like Karpal Singh who really do not seem to have adjusted to the new situation and new alignment of forces in this country.
Before the emergence of Keadilan, DAP was the sole and only opposition party for the non-Malays and non-Muslims. All DAP needed to do then was to unite non-Malays and non-Muslims to fight against the injustices of the New Economic Policy. There was no need to consider Malay or Muslim feeling and sentiment.
However, time has changed. Many non-Malays and non-Muslims, especially the Chinese have realised that while we have grievances, Malays and Muslims who are not with Umno, too, have their legitimate grievances. The 'secular' Umno oppresses us all. Thus, in this new situation, DAP has to be more sensitive and considerate.
As some writers in this section have pointed out very correctly, DAP seems to be still unaware that the political concept of 'non-Muslims' is no longer very useful because there are indeed many similarity among believers of Islam, Christianity and even Buddhism.
Gambling, for example, is strictly forbidden not only in Islam but also in Catholicism. While Islam forbids the consumption of alcohol, Christianity and Buddhism, too, do not encourage its excessive and wanton consumption.
DAP should consult more with learned and knowledgeable people like Dr Chandra Muzaffar, and should stop echoing Umno and MCA leaders just for political expediency.
The writer is right when he says that important matters like inter-party relationships should not be communicated through the mainstream media. It is silly for Karpal to attack a leader of another ally party, merely based on a news report.
Karpal might be a good lawyer, but he is, in my opinion, a very poor and immature politician in a new situation and new era. It is easy to be an instant hero, but damaged relations affecting the emotion and sentiments of thousands of supporters of the parties are difficult to repair.
Another bad example by Karpal was when he jumped on the MCA Youth bandwagon and attacked PRM vice-president Rustam A Sani for his allegedly 'anti-Chinese' statement in an article. What is Karpal Singh trying to prove? That he is more Chinese than MCA's Dr Ling Liong Sik? Or more 'non-Muslim' than the Catholics?
As a member and beneficiary of BA, DAP should learn to behave like a responsible married man who always think thrice before he opens his mouth to his spouse.
Perhaps, after being a bachelor for some 30 years, DAP still finds it difficult to adjust to married life which demands self-discipline, group responsibility, self-control of emotion, careful use of languages and the division of labour. Married men and women, especially those with children, must always be more responsible in their expressions even if there are genuine differences between spouses.
Unlike the writer, however, I would still vote for DAP even if Karpal were to contest in my constituency. I just want to advise Karpal to think and reason anew. Don't be selfish and don't try to project oneself at the expense of the whole team.
