May I share my thoughts on the issues that impact DAP's relevance in Malaysia's political life today:

Brand name and leadership:

The Rocket is a powerful symbol and invokes admiration and awe in many but apprehension in some. Sadly, the trend shows that DAP has deteriorated since 1969, and has really gone downhill since 1986 in terms of national and state standing. Has the leadership taken responsibility for and been held accountable for the slide? No!

In other democratic societies, the leader resigns (for real) when he leads the party to a single electoral debacle. In DAP, the same man has been leader virtually since 1969 (technically since 1971) ie he has outlived the entire Umno and Barisan Nasional leadership from Tunku Abdul Rahman to Mahathir Mohamad.

How will new leaders arise when anyone of any calibre are 'executed'? In the past 35 years, so many capable and sincere leaders have had to leave the party because they could not hack it with 'the leadership'.

Contribution to democratic dissent:

No doubt, DAP and Lim Kit Siang has contributed immeasurably to democratic awareness in Malaysian society the past 35 years, especially in helping check the excesses of a government that has virtually absolute power. Even if Lim does nothing from now on, his legacy as a great Malaysian politician and statesman is assured.

But at this rate of progress (or lack thereof) in electoral results, DAP will at best continue as an articulator of dissent on the sidelines or possibly be wiped out in the next election as the party risks being an irrelevant political dinosaur as there had been no renewal in terms of leadership, vision, strategy etc, the past 35 years, to be abreast of changing environments.

And please do not blame the slide on the changing ethnic make-up of the voters. A party that cannot attract the support of a cross-section of the people should not claim to be a national party.

DAP has to renew itself by focussing on its niche which is to serve as a voice of dissent and democratic change. There is no sign at all that the party sees the need to change, indeed, the opposite is true. To the Malaysian voter, it is the same tired old faces year-in-year-out.

The way political leaders in Malaysia hog power and position may well explain why the 'young and restless' gravitate to NGOs and professional bodies to advocate their idealism.

Is there still a role for DAP?

Emphatically 'yes', DAP is still the best vehicle for advocating democratic change and dissent but the party must be able to ignite the imagination of the young educated urbanites who are the ones that will matter in pushing for change. Unless the DAP can galvanise young liberal-minded Malaysians to commit to its cause, this may be the last general election when it is viewed as a credible force.

I hope well-meaning Malaysians with democratic ideals will realise there is no democracy without an effective and credible opposition and will join in a 'great effort' to ensure that DAP emerges stronger after the coming general elections. I also hope that DAP will regain its standing with voters by getting its house into order and embrace the need for democracy and professionalism in its leadership and strategies.