DAP founder Chairman Dr. Chen Man Hin’s feeling of pain and agony over the DAP Central Executive Committee’s decision to use the Pakatan Harapan common logo which is not the Rocket symbol is the feeling of all DAP leaders, members and supporters.

I had consulted Dr. Chen on the matter in a telephone conversation with him on Wednesday morning.

As I said at the DAP kopitiam ceramah at Pengkalan Rinting in Johor Baru earlier today when announcing the DAP/Pakatan Harapan Johore State Assembly candidate for Perling, the DAP decision not to use the Rocket logo, which had appeared in the ballot papers for eleven general elections from 1969 to 2013, was not an easy one, but a most painful and heart-wrenching decision for all DAP leaders.

For some five decades, the Rocket symbol had been identified with the uphill struggle, with many ups and downs, trials and tribulations, for an united, just, democratic, progressive and prosperous Malaysia.

I was detained twice under the Internal Security Act as a DAP leader, the first time after my election as MP for Bandar Melaka in 1969 and the second time during Operation Lalang in 1987. I was also tried in court under the Offcial Secrets Act in 1978 as a DAP leader.

DAP Secretary-General and Penang Chief Minister, Lim Guan Eng was first detained under the Internal Security Act and subsequently jailed and disqualified as Member of Parliament as well as disenfranchised for five years barring him from elective office because as a DAP leader he was defending the dignity of an underaged Malay girl.

In the 52 years history of DAP, many DAP leaders underwent trials and tribulations, including ISA detentions and prosecutions in courts.

DAP leaders have not abandoned the DAP principles and struggles with the decision to use a Pakatan Harapan common logo, which will not be the Rocket logo, because the 14th General Election is probably the only opportunity in many decades for a change of Federal government and for Malaysia to take the first step to become a normal democracy where voters can change the government peacefully and democratically through the ballot box, without the threat of violence, chaos or catastrophe.

We want to ensure not only individual candidates and DAP can win in the 14th General Election, we want to ensure that all Pakatan Harapan candidates and all the four component parties in Pakatan Harapan – DAP, PKR, AMANAH and Bersatu – can win over a simple majority of the 222 Parliamentary seats in Malaysia in the 14GE so as to form the next Federal Government in Malaysia to Save Malaysia from becoming a failed, rogue and kleptocratic state.

The suggestion that the other three political parties of PKR, AMANAH and Bersatu use a common Pakatan Harapan logo while DAP keeps its Rocket logo in the 14GE is not really an option, for we must be able to convey to Malaysian voters the inspiring message that the four Pakatan Harapan parties are united as one political force to Save Malaysia to resolve the economic problems of the people as well as to undertake the formidable task of reforming national institutions.

The preparedness of DAP leaders to undergo the pain and heart-wrenching associated with the decision to use a common Pakatan Harapan logo which is not the Rocket symbol is a game-changer, sending out a loud and clear message that the time has come for all Malaysians to rise above race, language, religion and even political parties so that Malaysia can have a second chance to reset nation-building policies and directions by returning to the fundamental principles laid out in the Malaysian Constitution and key nation-building documents like the Rukunegara and save Malaysia from the fate of a failed, rogue and kleptocratic state.

(Media Statement in Gelang Patah on Friday, 6th April 2018)