Lim Kit Siang and the DAP leadership are drawing the wrong conclusions from the overwhelming victory of the Barisan National in the 2004 general election.

It is not a rejection of the Islamic state or an endorsement of DAP's defence of the '46-year Merdeka social contract of Malaysia as a secular democracy with Islam as the official religion',

On the contrary, it is an endorsement of the role of Islam in the public sphere and a rejection of confining it to the private domain.

BN considers Malaysia an Islamic state and had to make Islam a central plank in its election manifesto to win the support of the Muslims. It is committed to developing Islam Hadhari and the Muslim electorate will be watching and hold the coalition to its promise.

DAP must realise that, rightly or wrongly, it is perceived as a Chinese party by many Malays. It is regrettable that it is even considered by them as being anti-Malay and anti-Muslim.

The reason is obvious. DAP's electoral support comes overwhelmingly from the Chinese community. It has not made any headway in the Malay community. DAP Secretary-general Kerk Kim Hock lost in Kota Melaka, a DAP stronghold for 35 years, because he could not get the support of the Malay voters.

BN has been able to rule Malaysia since independence because Umno has been able to retain the support of the majority of Malays. Therefore, any coalition of parties aspiring to replace the BN must have a component that will have sufficient Malay support to defeat Umno at the polls.

DAP is making a serious mistake by attacking PAS and writing it off. PAS is still a major player in Malaysian politics. It obtained 45% of the Malay votes in the Malay belt and has made inroads into the west coast states as well.

The contest for Malay support will be between PAS and Umno for many more years to come. Keadilan will not be able to replace PAS. Thus, the suggestion by Lim Kit Siang for a merger of DAP and Keadilan, but without PAS, is a non-starter. Embracing DAP will be the kiss-of-death for Keadilan.

For democracy to grow and thrive in Malaysia we need a two-party system with a strong opposition in Parliament. Without running to the press to make their presence felt, DAP leaders should seriously reflect on the present political scenario and evolve an appropriate strategy for the emergence of a strong coalition to check the disproportionate power of the BN.

If DAP is seriously committed to the goal of a two-party system, it has no choice but to engage constructively with PAS. For, otherwise, it will always remain a small Chinese opposition party despite having its Karpal Singhs and Kulasegarans.