In my view the greatest stumbling block to the secular opposition as represented by DAP and Keadilan is the effectiveness of the BN propaganda machine in convincing voters:

1) That a vote for DAP is a vote for PAS, i.e. any loss of support for BN helps PAS, and that a vote for DAP strengthens PAS' Islamic state agenda and that

2) The DAP cannot bring development.

Let me briefly suggest some effective and factual rebuttals. A vote for DAP weakens both PAS and BN, and strengthens the cause of the secular democratic opposition. DAP must regain the role of opposition leader in Parliament and the state assemblies of Penang and Perak, at the very least.

Remember the glorious days in the '70s, '80s and '90s when DAP was the opposition leader not only in Parliament but also in the state assemblies of Penang, Perak, Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Melaka, Johor and Pahang with representation even in Kedah and Sarawak? Only a strong, vocal and effective secular opposition will stem the tide of Islamisation in Malaysia with all its attendant threats to the Malaysian way of life.

The unprecedented resurgence of PAS is not caused by DAP, rather, it is caused by Umno/BN mainly via two key factors. Firstly being the injustices perpetrated on Anwar Ibrahim which PAS capitalised on, and secondly by Umno/BN playing the race and religion cards in politics to hold on to power.

When the Mahathir administration started the gradual (and accelerating) process of bringing religion into the constitutional and political life of the nation, this was the signal to PAS that their time had, at long last, come. Umno has now got the nation on to a treacherous slope and they cannot find the brakes to stop the slide, without losing power.

The way to work for a return to secularism is not by supporting Umno/BN but by voting for a strong secular opposition to show the nation and the international community that there is a significant proportion of Malaysians who hold dear to secular democratic principles.

Of course a big part of the shift in Malay/Muslim support towards PAS is the rebellion against Umno due to corruption and abuse of power and the loss of civil and democratic freedoms in the 22 long years of the Mahathir administration.

Pak Lah is a good leader, but this is no reason for giving Umno/BN a landslide victory.

An effective opposition was personified, largely, by its senior leaders such as Lim Kit Siang and Karpal Singh that have represented DAP since 1969. But it is time for the DAP to start entrusting leadership and power to a younger set of leaders so that the party can be reinvent and rebuild itself after this elections, to re-emerge once again, as a credible and respected opposition force.

It is not the opposition's role to bring about development; it is the ruling government's responsibility and obligation. Of course the DAP cannot bring development. How can it when the fundamental right of citizens to elect their representatives at the most basic level of the democratic system, i.e. at district, municipal and city level has been unjustly suspended by the BN/Umno government since 1965?

Until local government elections are restored, Malaysia cannot even claim to have fulfilled the forms of democracy, let alone the substance.

Tomorrow is polling day, please do all you can to mobilise voter opinion to vote for a strong DAP in Parliament and the state assemblies. The chance may never come again.

Don't worry about MCA losing its seats, there are plenty of appointed positions waiting for them as city, municipal or district councillors, senators, directors of statutory bodies etc. They can still serve if they wish to. Do worry about MCA representatives who have no guts to represent our critical interests and supporting blindly whatever legislation placed before them.

This is not an election about development. We have lots of development. This is an election about claiming back our fundamental rights that have been severely eroded over the past 22 years.

And while we are at it, boot out every corrupt incumbent candidate so that we, the people, will never be hoodwinked again!

Remember that the late opposition legend, Dr Tan Chee Khoon, won his Kepong parliamentary constituency in 1964 by only two votes. Every vote counts.

Go get them!