I think DAP's withdrawal from the Barisan Alternatif is a blessing in disguise for Keadilan/PRM because the latter can now go all out to recruit young Chinese like me and my younger brother who do not subscribe to race-based politics.

For years, Umno, MCA, MIC and DAP have been playing with racial politics, openly or subtly.

When DAP was in BA, it sees itself and wants others to see it as a 'Chinese' representative. It wants Keadilan/PRM to remain a Malay nationalist party so that its dominance over the Chinese opposition will not be challenged. But I think this approach makes BA little different from BN.

Now that DAP has made its final decision to leave, we can only wish it good luck. What Chinese Malaysians should do is to join or at least strongly support Keadilan/PRM to make them more multiethnic. If we want a Vision School for our children, then we adults must have a Vision Party first. As there is now only one Malay/Muslim-predominant party that opens its door to the Chinese, we must seize the opportunity to help others and ourselves.

Only by co-operating under one party for justice, democracy and human rights can Malays, Chinese, Indians, Kadazans and all truly learn from each other, understand each other's hopes and fears in this land we call our home. Where there is no conflict, we should accept the good in Islam, Confucianism, Hinduism, Christianity, Buddhism, Sikhism, etc. We should not fear each other anymore.

We should reject Umno, MCA, MIC and DAP's brand of old politics. Let us all do our part, however small or insignificant, to help build a truly mass-based party of Malaysians.