For the first time in Malaysian history, 1999 general elections featured a united opposition in the form of Barisan Alternatif taking on the long-established Barisan Nasional. Although the results were not too impressive for the newly formed coalition (BN won two-thirds in parliament although it managed to get only 56 percent of the popular vote), there were hopes in the minds of the general public that the BA will eventually evolve into an effective and truly representative alternative for Malaysians to replace the BN the next time around.

Unfortunately, after two years, it is becoming clear that the BA is truly not an organisation that can be relied upon to lead this country in the future in its present form. While PAS has been openly talking about forming its form of Islamic state if it forms the next government, BA as a coalition comprising PAS, DAP, Keadilan and PRM has been surprisingly very quite on this matter. Only DAP has made its stand clear on this subject. By being ambiguous, BA is not giving a good impression of itself to the general public. You cannot deceive Malaysians by being illusive on an issue like an Islamic state for Malaysia.

There are many non-Muslims and non-Malays in Malaysia who are willing to support BA so that it may form the next government. But as long as the issue of Islamic state is not effectively addressed by the BA leadership, it is the misfortune of the reluctant Malaysians that they will still have to support the devil they know (BN) than the possible angel they really do not know (BA).

Without significant non-Malay and non-Muslim support, there is no way the BA is going to win the next general elections, except to have some token representation here and there. Is that what BA really wants? BA must realise that by the next general elections, the importance of the Anwar Ibrahim factor will become greatly reduced.

The BN is already gaining the upper hand in the current political situation with the brouhaha from the so-called Kumpulan Mujahidin Malaysia. Whether or not KMM is a threat to the nation is another matter; in politics, creating doubts is sufficient to sway a significant section of the people to BN.

The BN has continued to abuse the ISA. The police department has become more and more brutal and is an obvious tool of the power-crazy leadership, the mass media is tightly controlled by the ruling authorities, Malaysians are branded as disloyal and militant if they dare to criticise the BN leadership, among other injustices.

Yet, BA is unable to jointly galvanise support for itself by setting a simple and clear joint policy to counter the BN and takeover the initiative to form the next fair and just government which all Malaysians are looking forward to. Why let the illusive Islamic state issue cloud more important matters now since Malaysia is already a "modern Islamic state" according to our Prime Minister?

PAS has its right to dream about the forming of an Islamic state in Malaysia. However, why should BA allow this issue to diminish its chances in the next general elections?

If it is prepared to take that chance, then it is better for DAP to break clean from BA and try to become an effective opposition party once again.

If the BA is not prepared to make some drastic changes in its policy and leadership set-up, it is doomed to fade away, taking with it the hopes of Malaysians to see the replacement of the defiled and dictatorial leadership of BN.

However, there is still some hope for BA to become relevant if Keadilan chief Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail is prepared to make further personal sacrifices and take over the leadership of BA and offer Malaysians a truly multi-racial, multi-cultural and democratic platform.

BA should renew its commitment to Rukun Negara, which is truly the answer to most of our present predicaments. If genuine changes are forthcoming from BA, Malaysia can become the third Asean country with a lady in power in 2004, after the Philippines and Indonesia.

If BA is unable to change immediately and meet the challenge head on, BA will eventually fade away to the great disappointment of many Malaysians.