Essentially a reversion to the pattern established in 1995, and a personal triumph for the new man, Abdullah Badawi. Voters, relieved at Mahathir's departure, liked the noises Badawi was making.
But hardly the exemplary seeing-off of the so-called fundamentalist Islamists touted in the world media. The Islamic party, although trounced in terms of seats -- an effect of the first-past-the-post system -- retained its support in the (poorer) northern states. It was in the rich central states that there was almost wilful abandonment of Anwar Ibrahim's party.
However, the polls were badly marred by severe irregularities on polling day.
In contrast, the Indian polls have been inspiring -- befitting India's tag of the world's largest democracy. Reminded me once again of that wonderful essay by EP Thompson on Indira's defeat, even if the context today is so different from then.
kj khoo