As a resident of Penang, which is possibly one of the DAP's stronghold, I am disappointed with the party's top leadership with regard to their attitude in addressing several issues.

Take the 1999 general elections for example — DAP blamed its defeat on its decision to work with PAS under the Barisan Alternatif banner. It claimed that it had been projected as supportive of PAS' Islamic state. And this was used against the party by MCA and Gerakan to their own benefit.

DAP has repeated this lament more than once — in the Chinese newspapers and in speeches by its leaders. It even claimed that it could have won at least 22 seats had it stood alone in the 1999 elections.

Is the fear of the Islamic state issue undermining support for DAP? If so, what are the steps the party is taking to address this issue?

DAP seems to be ignoring support from Malay Malaysians though their support is noteworthy as DAP was hardly popular with them in the past. However, DAP seems foolishly content to focus on the Chinese Malaysian.

DAP used the Islamic state issue to pull out of BA. But I fear that by dangling the Islamic state bogey, DAP will only increase the fear among Chinese Malaysians instead of countering it.

And since its pullout from BA, DAP has become very critical of opposition coalition. The party seems even more critical of BA than it is of the ruling BN. It launched a series of attacks on Keadilan following the Indera Kayangan by-election where the latter claimed to have gained more Chinese Malaysian votes.

One wonders if DAP is still an opposition party. Who then is DAP's greater foe — Keadilan or BN?

Is DAP feeling 'threatened' by the other opposition parties, especially Keadilan, in relation to the Chinese Malaysian support? Where DAP's top leadership is concerned, it certainly appears so.

I'm afraid that if the party continues to focus on Chinese Malaysian issues, it will not improve itself.