Whilst DAP chairperson Lim Kit Siang is perfectly entitled to correct the misreport of his attendance at the Keadilan AGM in Kemaman on Nov 10 as being without the approval of the DAP Central Executive Committee, he should not impute manipulation and be overly sensitive about "DAP-bashing and Lim Kit Siang-bashing" ('Opposition leader ticks off malaysiakini ' Dec 21).

To the best of my recollection, just about every political party on both sides of the political divide and every public figure (Fadzil Noor, Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, Anwar Ibrahim, and the Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad included) have received their fair share of bashing and praise in malaysiakini 's diverse letter forum.

Having said that, it may be a refreshing change for Kit Siang to hear that at least as far as I am concerned, I think that his proposal to form a "secular front" with Keadilan and PRM and any other parties willing to work with DAP is, as described by letter contributor Tai Chi Chuan, "an epoch making idea" ('New Front - an epoch making idea', Dec 19).

Although Keadilan and PRM are Malay based, as the DAP is Chinese based, all share the common platform of opening their membership to all races and are struggling for an accountable, transparent, pluralist political system, allowing the participation of civil society in the political process, and opposed to corruption and abuse of power.

If such an opposition front is formed and becomes viable, it will provide an alternative to those mainstream middle of the road moderate Malaysians including NGOs and women's groups who do not like the politicisation of race or religion.

To be sure, Keadilan and PRM's prevarication if not reluctance to embrace this concept may be based on their calculations based on realpolitik that their constituencies are not ready for and in fact are opposed to such an idea.

Whilst Keadilan and PRM's leaders are entitled to do what they think is best in their political interest, they must surely realise, as do others, that their continued collaboration with PAS structured on raison d'etre of politicisation of religion is contrary to the spirit and letter of their professed manifestos.

Whatever one may think of the DAP, it was a principled step, at the risk of being consigned to political limbo, to break away from the Barisan Alternatif coalition that is dominated by a party whose ideology is so diametrically opposed to common professed one of the BA and the DAP.

Former Keadilan deputy president Dr Chandra Muzaffar is right that Keadilan must do an honest self-appraisal ("Keadilan needs 'honest and independent' review", Dec 21).

Keadilan needs to reinvent its political strategy. As it stands now, it does seem to have praxis or concrete policies to demonstrate how it could be a viable alternative.

Riding alone on the outrage of one man's fall from grace and being able to organise demonstrations (constituted more of PAS' supporters) when demonstrations are not in vogue amongst Malaysians and in fact lead to some of its inner circle being rounded up in Kamunting, simply won't do.

Keadilan will not go far in seeking to thrive under PAS' patronage and hegemony in the BA. It cannot attract intellectuals like Chandra, Prof Jomo KS or Ruslan Kassim. Without the support of a broad section of Malaysian society, it cannot, with PRM and PAS, take on the 14-member-strong and well-oiled political machinery of the Barisan Nasional led by a dynamic and wily prime minister.

Keadilan and PRM, are now poised at a vantage point to play the catalytic role in joining with the DAP to create a multi-ethnic coalition pursuing a political culture above race and religion.

Though many Malaysians may not be ready, the question is whether the leaders of Keadilan and PRM have the resolve to make that call based on principles of their manifestos and lead their supporters than be led?

I believe, with sadness and resignation, that they, of course, won't do it.