This is my 12th General Elections participation, but for the first time in five decades, I will not be using the Rocket symbol. Instead I will be using the Pakatan Harapan common logo of the PKR’s blue-eyes.

This is not an easy decision for DAP leaders to make, as for more than half a century, DAP leaders and members have fought and suffered in the name of the Rocket, endured the ups and downs, the trials and tribulations of staying true to the DAP objectives and principles for Malaysian unity, harmony, integrity, justice, freedom and the rule of law.

I was detained twice under the Internal Security Act, prosecuted in court and underwent various harassments as a DAP Member of Parliament; the DAP Secretary-General and Penang Chief Minister; Lim Guan Eng was detained under the ISA, disqualified as MP for Kota Melaka and went to Kajang Prison for a year for defending the honour and dignity of an underaged Malay girl and was disenfranchised and unable to cast his vote or stand for elective office for five years; many DAP leaders were jailed, prosecuted in court and their livelihood harassed in the past five decades because DAP leaders had remained true and loyal to DAP objectives and principles.

All this we did under the Roket symbol – so it was a most painful and heart-wrenching decision for DAP leaders to take not to use the Rocket symbol.

But extraordinary times call all for extraordinary responses – and the 14th General Election is indeed an extraordinary occasion. Read the rest of this entry »