Raja Petra Kamaruddin's editorial in Seruan Keadilan that mentioned non-Muslim lawyers and judges as enemies of Islam is uncalled for, especially when it is placed in an editorial of multi-racial party like Keadilan.

I think that it is sad that such a statement was made, which we can only expect to play into the hands of the BN media and other doubters. Furthermore it undermines a party which is breaking new ground in promoting new politics in a country so polarised between race and religion.

What Raja Petra wrote had nothing at all to do with Keadilan's principles. Anwar Ibrahim, whose dismissal led to the reformasi movement, which then led to the birth of Keadilan is known for his progressive Islamic ideals and his realisation of Malaysia as multi-cultural country. This has been acknowledged by Islamic scholars such as Yusuf Qardhawi or even non-Muslim figures such as John L Esposito and former US ambassador, John Malott.

Nevertheless, whereas some DAP sympathisers are having a field day picking up on Raja Petra's mistake, it is important to have a look at the following salient points:

1) DAP claims to be a multiracial party promoting Malaysian Malaysia. Yet Keadilan has a more diverse and representative leadership compared to DAP which is heavily dominated by Chinese Malaysians with a few token Indian Malaysians. The last major DAP Malay leader is the late Ahmad Nor. Keadilan on the other hand has people like Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Syed Husin Ali, Dr Xavier Jayakumar, Sivarasa Rasiah, N Gobalakrishnan, Tian Chua, Dr Lee Boon Chye, Cheah Kah Peng and Christina Liew.

2) DAP's insistence to contest in all Chinese majority areas shows that it sees it alone as the Chinese party of Malaysia, and does not allow proven Keadilan leaders like Tian Chua and Dr Lee Boon Chye to contest. At the same time, DAP criticises Keadilan of not representing the Chinese Malaysians. But how can Keadilan project itself as a party representing all Malaysians if DAP is unwilling to allow Keadilan to prove itself in Chinese-majority areas?

3) Dr Mahathir Mohamad has now stepped down as prime minister. It is interesting to note that Lim Kit Siang is still staying on as the chairperson of DAP after being secretary-general since 1966. That record is even longer than Samy Vellu leading the MIC! This has led to the disillusionment and marginalisation of other potential figures such as Teng Chang Khim.

I hope that Keadilan should learn from its mistakes (such as the editorial by Raja Petra) while at the same time continue to project itself as a dynamic and forward looking multi-racial party. People in the party should be sensitive to the diverse constituent that makes Keadilan's potential electorate.

Many young Malaysians Chinese, Malay and Indian look at Keadilan as being the party of the future and see DAP despite its lofty rhetoric, of not being much of a truly Malaysian party. DAP's own rhetoric shows how it is only adept at the urban Chinese constituents but is not sensitive to the needs of Malaysians as a whole.