The current crisis embroiling DAP is nothing new. First we saw Lim Fui Ming resigning from his party post of vice-chief of Negeri Sembilan over claims of marginalisation by the top hierarchy.

Then, DAP's Selangor chairman, Ong Chee Keng, was ousted in a vote of no-confidence by 14 out of 20 Selangor DAP committee members amidst allegation that this action was done to install party secretary-general Lim Guan Eng as the state chairman. Following the departure of Chee Keng, Ean Yong Hian Wah, who is well-known to be closely-linked to the Lim family faction, replaced him.

Khoo Kay Peng, of Gerakan's Sedar Institute think-tank, says that the DAP crisis is a matter of some factions within the party jostling for positions (when it's close to a general election).

This is not a matter of jostling for seats because of a general election. It is a reflection of the seething resentment against the Lim family dynasty which erupts every now and again. The last was in the 1990s during the Koks or 'Kick Out Kit Siang' campaign.

In 2006, DAP's rising starlet Fong Poh Kuan also complained of internal dissatisfaction. In a blog entry she had posted, she criticised her own party but was duly instructed to have the blog entry removed. This is typical of the machinery of the DAP stalwarts.

Poh Kuan created Batu Gajah into a DAP stronghold on her own strength thus earning the nick name of 'Cili padi'. She was clever to use her gender to make MCA look like a big bully, and she became the female version of David versus the Goliath. But when she became too popular with her supporters, rumours started floating that the dynastic tentacles were jealous and are seeking to remove her to another constituency in the next general elections.

Where is the fairness when upcoming young politicians are cold-storaged or inexplicably removed when DAP stalwarts feel threatened? How may young, idealistic politicians will be able to prove their mettle or survive long in the party when the father and son team is quick to come down on anyone whom they feel will rock their boat?

And here the DAP says they are defending the rights of Malaysian citizens. Where is the democracy? This is not fitting behaviour for any political party. How can DAP serve the nation when they can't even get their own house in order? This selfish disposition will eventually lead to the party's own disintegration.