The argument goes that such “cleansing” of MPs who might cause potential problems to the party leadership is necessary if DAP were to seek an alliance of sorts with Umno Baru/BN if that coalition does not get enough seats to form a government and Harapan too does not get a majority at the 15th general elections (GE15).

As far-fetched as such a scheme appears to reasonable people, far more incongruous alliances have been made in the past - witness that between Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s Bersatu then and Harapan which put bitter Mahathir foes, such as Anwar Ibrahim and Lim Kit Siang, on the same side as Mahathir.

We all know what happened later when the wily old fox played out the younger two and a whole lot of Malaysians were over-excited by the likely alliance - so impossible that any impartial observer had to conclude that a chance of break-up was very high. After all, Mahathir is not in the habit of playing second fiddle.

The current situation in DAP is of course different but not completely dissimilar - if reports are to be believed, the dalliance with Umno is not being discounted. DAP’s new supremo, Anthony Loke, did not deny the possibility when speaking of it previously. I had to occasion to comment on that in this piece titled ‘DAP’s detrimental ambivalence on GE15’.

P.Dev Anand Pillai : The DAP will be wiped out in this election if it doesn't make the right decisions with regards to its choice of candidates. The DAP has to understand that it would be best to keep what it has at the moment and slowly develop the mindset change which has been slowly taking place since the political landscape change took place in 2008.

Working with UMNO should only be given a chance if UMNO is serious about fighting corruption and reforming the way in which the nation is governed and how it has been the sole cause of the decay in the way the nation was administered since 1981.

TTSH : Where did you derive your concoctions from? Watching from the island of Penang, I see a mixture of parties on the mainland trying to get the upper hand. Let's admit that there is a vast difference between states administered by one strong party; without any interference from the others versus states with all parties trying to be the boss.

Too many cooks spoil the broth. Take for example PAS. Regardless of whether the states are backwards or under developed, their people & leaders are united under one rule. Penang lang are happy with the way the State is administered/prospering; and the Aduns really get down to business.

We are peacefully minding our own business. We are also very fortunate that our allies are just the minority; and the Opposition aliens like BN, PAS & Bersatu are kept out. Since 2008, Penangites have always been united under DAP. As for the mainland, how to run a state or country properly with such a disarray of "rojak" parties going around and confusing the Rakyat?

Maybe certain DAP leaders are studying the overall picture and possibilty of working with UMNO for the betterment of our country (not for selfish reasons). How to get things done without all parties cooperating? It is the Rakyat who suffers. That is the question that should be posed to all the parties, not just DAP. DAP leaders do not necessarily represent us DAP folks. Once bitten, twice - forever shy.

Krabian : As long as it's a govt for the people minus racism, corruption and all those religious agenda rubbish, it do not matter who you work with.