And so he got away with it. After 22 years of being in power, the man who was responsible for transforming the socio-cultural, economic, political and institutional landscape of Malaysia - and under whose watch the 1983-84 constitutional crisis, the Memali incident of 1985, Operation Lalang of 1987, Operation Kenari of 1988, the second constitutional crisis of 1993-94 and a host of economic and financial scandals from the Bank Bumiputera Finance scandal to the Perwaja fiasco managed to make a strategic exit and ensure continuity for his party, the ruling coalition and the regime as a whole.

The Malaysian public, awash with sentimental froth and flurry, shed its tears and the muzzled press sang their praises. All eyes turned to the next prime minister of the country and began asking the question: will things be better now? Unless a miracle is bestowed on this nation of shoppers and baby boomers, don't bet on it.

For the key word here is 'regime continuity', a phrase too often kept within the confines of dusty ivory towers but for now at least should make a timely public appearance. A quick survey of the state of the nation will show that all is well and its business as usual in Malaysia Inc.

Investors have been assured that Malaysia will remain on the course it charted two decades ago, and that the country's economic priorities will not be sacrificed for the sake of genuine social reforms. The money will keep flowing in, the contracts will be signed and America will remain the country's main trading partner, despite the combustible rhetoric that might issue from the mouths of Malaysian politicians.