Since DAP's launch of the 'No to Islamic State' campaign, colourful posters have been pasted out sporadically in major towns. The posters are visible in Chinese-predominated areas like Pulau Tikus and Air Itam in Penang, and some in Taman Seri Rambai in Bukit Mertajam. But surprisingly, the posters do not feature in areas where Malay or Muslim community predominates.

I have surveyed Malay-majority areas in both Penang and Seberang Prai. From the Malay kampung in Tanjong Tokong, Bukit Bendera to the Medan Tengku, Jelutong constituency, not a single poster has been put up to tell the Malay-Muslim community about DAP's unwavering stand on the Islamic state. The same thing has happened in Machang Bubok, Bkt Mertajam and other Malay areas in Seberang Prai.

Is DAP trying to hide the truth from the Malays in the constituencies they have contested and won? Or are they also suffering from the BN's 'Chinese-News-For-Chinese-Only' and 'Malay-News-For-Malay-Only' syndrome, with the single purpose of winning the seat alone? They should allow Muslims, who might have voted for them before, to judge their stand for themselves.

All the while DAP has criticised BN for its double-faced campaign, but it seems like DAP is playing to the tune of BN. They can forget about the Malaysian's Malaysia slogan - it has gone down the drain for good as the party is more inclined to develop a Malaysia for chauvinistic Chinese. It is sad to see a party like DAP has stooped so low in order to win a few votes.

They have provided the bullets for the ultra-nationalists within Umno who will surely have a field day once they roll out the propaganda machine. A booklet, widely circulated in government departments and published by Jabatan Hal Ehwal Khas Pulau Pinang and Kementerian Penerangan under the title: 'Penjelasan Isu-Isu Semasa', has alleged that "DAP is the enemy of Islam" and anyone associated with DAP is "kafir" and "pengkhianat bangsa".

Only time will tell how many more racial slurs like this would be churned out by the ultras. Both DAP and the ultras are playing with fire, and it is up to the right-minded citizens to deny them their playing field.

DAP national chairperson Lim Kit Siang must explain to the people on how this one-sided or racially-flavoured campaign can solve the issue of the Islamic state and help the opposition to deny BN its hegemony.