Nanyang Siang Pau (Dec 18) quoted DAP secretary-general, Kerk Kim Hock as saying that his chief, Lim Kit Siang's proposal to form a new opposition front with Keadilan/PRM has not been discussed in the central committee of the party yet. This frank admission is shocking in at least two aspects.

One, how can such a major policy or political proposal made in the name of a major political party be announced without prior discussion and endorsement from the central committee or other relevant decision-making groups within the party?

Has DAP's CEC (central executive committee) degenerated into a rubber stamp of Lim's wills, whims and fancies?

How can such a proposal be considered and respected as serious by its intended targets, given the fact that it is only the idea of one leader?

And Lim expects Keadilan/PRM to respond to it seriously! Even if the proposal has been endorsed officially by DAP's central committee or other relevant bodies of decision-making, Keadilan/PRM still has to consult their leaders, members and supporters first.

Keadilan/PRM is a mass-based, democratic and politically responsible party. It cannot act like DAP which has no respect for intra-party procedures, channels and the spirit of policy consultation and debate.

And where are the operational, concrete, quantifiable and presentable details of the proposal? My advice to Lim and DAP are simply as follows:

  • Prepare concrete, viable and operational details of the proposal in written form first;

  • send it to all members of DAP's CEC for discussion and formal endorsement

  • send the endorsed (possibly amended) proposal in written form privately to the presidents of Keadilan and PRM; and send one copy to the president of PAS and leader of the parliamentary opposition as a mark of respect;

  • don't air it in public and wait patiently for any queries and reactions from them;

  • and discuss about it openly only when the presidents of Keadilan and PRM agree to such a public debate and discussion.

    • Adults must learn to do things like adults.