Allow me to respond to the letter titled DAP outburst over letter justifiable in which the writer claims that we cannot compare the Barisan Nasional and the DAP as like an orange to an orange.

To a certain degree, the writer is right; the BN is the ruling coalition which commands the police and other law enforcement powers that could be used to effectively stifle press freedom. The DAP is an opposition party that does not have these powers.

However, there is similarity (or an orange to orange comparison) between typical BN attitude and DAP's Loke Siew Fook's outburst against free and independent media.

True, as an opposition party, DAP does not possess the powers to stifle press freedom and independence now. But what if it has the power one day and if Loke's attitude reflects the collective attitude of the DAP?

What if the unchanged Loke becomes the minister for Home Affairs in the DAP government? Would he not send the police to close down malaysiakini and grill the editors to find out who wrote the letters which are deemed to be detrimental to DAP's image and interests? I think he would.

For the moment, I am thankful that DAP is only an opposition party and not the government. I hope the DAP will continue to be in opposition until a time it shows signs that it has repudiated Loke' s attitude.