DAP's sterling reputation as the opposition party of Malaysia has been built on the back of truly giant and legendary personalities.

Whereas the Barisan Nasional benches in parliament have been for decades largely filled by faceless generic seat-holders, the always small group of DAP MPs made up for lack of quantity with their sheer force of personality.

Former chairperson Dr Chen Man Hin, vice-chairperson Dr V David, Karpal Singh, (the old) Lee Lam Thye and numerous others who are no longer active, or with us, kept the DAP flame burning brightly. Riding in front like a colossus has been the fearless Lim Kit Siang (a man who should have been made a Tun by now).

But time and age take their toll - you know that's true when no less a fighter than Kit Siang throws in the towel by predicting a BN win in the next general election - and it doesn't look like these legendary personalities will be replaced.

The result is that the DAP is reaching a crossroads in its existence and is struggling to carve out a new role for itself in what is clearly a changing political scene.

The DAP is rooted in the slowly-crumbling system where parties had to take racial hues to be considered important. The DAP has had admirable attitudes about multi-racialism, but the fact is it has always depended mainly on Chinese support for its legislative success.

If the DAP is shackled by the past, Keadilan represents the future. Detractors may complain about Keadilan being a chip off the old Umno block (mainly because many of its personalities came from that party), but the party has shown through word and deed that it is a truly Malaysian party with a spirit that Tunku Abdul Rahman and his cohorts had envisaged for the old Alliance.

In fact, if the Islamists who support PAS care to look hard enough, they would find in Anwar Ibrahim a devout Muslim who also considers non-Muslims fellow countrymen and equals.

If, Insya'Allah, he becomes the Malaysian leader, he may well become the leader of the world's progressive Muslims due to his inclusive attitudes.

An electoral pact between Keadilan and the DAP has little chance of succeeding unless the DAP overhauls its whole philosophy with an eye to the future.

It is time for Keadilan to strike out confidently on its own. Morally, it occupies the highest ground, and should clearly, confidently and forcefully carve out its path instead of having to compromise its own admirable beliefs and philosophies just to accommodate the artifacts of a discredited system.

And it is time for Malaysians to take a fearless leap of faith into the future by throwing in their lot with this party. Most Malaysians know the country is crying out for a change, but are not able to overcome their deep-seated fears about defying the present powers.

I think these fears are largely unfounded. If Malaysians push back when they are pushed, I believe the oppressors will melt away quickly.

Meanwhile, the DAP will hopefully be able to reinvent itself as a force in the new Malaysia. It will be a sad day indeed if it fades from the Malaysian political scene.