With the Ketari by-election round the corner, it is time again to see a sandiwara and a bunch of opposition leaders fight over the candidacy and the seat. Never mind what the larger audience think: Who cares for these people anyway? After all, until its state assembly representative Loke Khoon Kum passed away recently, not many people have even heard about Ketari, let alone know its geographical location.

But I still say DAP must stand alone in the coming Ketari by-election and forget about its call for the other opposition parties to rally around it.

When DAP decided to leave the opposition front, it had pledge to stand alone in its struggle for a democratic and secular Malaysia. So alone it must stand in Ketari.

DAP decided to leave the opposition front over the Islamic state issue, which it could have resolved with its partners in a more civilised manner or a longer period of time but did not. Instead, it went to the press and caused a furore among its friends, and said things which otherwise could have been said in secret or closed-door meetings.

Now it has the cheek to ask for help when it has officially refused to help Keadilan in Indera Kayangan and all for what? "Because we do not want to be seen as supporting the Islamic state." For heavens sake, the candidate in Indera Kayangan was not even a PAS candidate!

Now PAS can say: "We do not want to support the DAP because we do not want to be seen as supporting a secular state."

What about PRM and Keadilan? What is their excuse for not wanting to campaign for DAP or for choosing to place its candidate instead?

The fact is, this kind of argument could never end and it only benefits the ruling party.

DAP is more concerned about itself and its dying brand of supporters. To many of us who want reform, DAP has become a bigger enemy than Barisan Nasional.

To have your enemy shoot you in the face is not as bad as having a partner or a comrade do it in your back.

The opposition front should do its best to crush not just the BN but DAP, too — because in recent months, DAP seems to be singing BNs tune.

We have no room for sympathy: We are talking about politics, not friendship, romance or love.