It is politics as usual. The animosity, even hatred, Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his protege-turned nemesis, Anwar Ibrahim, is unalloyed.

They punch in different directions, often viciously, but however hard they try, they end up punching each other. Each display an arrogance and overconfidence in what they consider their hour of triumph. One fell victim to it, the other about to. They hold Malaysian politics to ransom.

It is, in one sense, an unequal fight. Mahathir had the power and authority to sack, humiliate and jail Anwar in circumstances that precluded a fair trial. Anwar had only public support in Malaysia and overseas.