The spat of words pitting DAP and MCA in the run-up to the Machap by-election is not only melodramatic but almost comical in more ways than one. The truth is DAP is just distracting the voters into thinking that they have no direction, when in fact they are playing 'Goldilocks and the Three Little Bears'.

When Goldilocks went to the house of the three little bears, she wasn't really breaking in to steal anything. She was just plain mischievous. She tested whatever she could get her naughty hands on.

DAP admits they have no chance in Machap as it is a stronghold of the BN. While their PKR partner may be trying to garner more Malay votes, this in itself will also prove futile in this normally quiet agriculture-based town. On top of it, there are not a whole lot of local issues to contend with.

So why go into an election when you know you have no chance of winning? Is it just to show your presence? Why break into the house of the three bears when you have no intention of stealing anything?

DAP's main strategy is to stretch its political mileage from this by-election by testing its campaign messages on urban voters. It is also an excellent opportunity to capture the attention of the urban voters and to stir their emotions on national issues. At best, it will try and maintain its momentum for the next general elections.

Issues like the NEP, the kris-waving stage show, corruption, transparency, the Asli report debacle, the ethnic relations module issue, the toll hikes and reduction in oil subsidies will now come forth. But then again, you don't want to be speaking so much so that your voters become confused.

Lim Guan Eng and his team will not be speaking during this period as much as they would like to test what messages would 'stick' with the urban voters. Not all the issues they hope to raise in run-up to the general election will sit well or even be understood by the public.

However, this is nonetheless an excellent chance to focus and to make adjustments on key issues - to test what is 'not too hot, not too cold but just right'.

Meanwhile, the local DAP brigade will be given a 'role' to lambast the MCA and play the underdog. The belittling will culminate soon with mud-slinging which will serve no purpose other than to attract the attention of voters to the DAP.