My generation of Malaysians has indeed never experienced more exciting and fascinating political changes in the country until very recently.

No one would have imagined the decades-long Barisan Nasional rule in Kedah, Penang, Perak and Selangor could simply be brought to an abrupt end. For those who had lived through the tragedy of 1969, this was too nightmarish a scenario. When news of the opposition parties bagged victory in Selangor broke, there were voices of concern as to whether Khir Toyo, then the care-taker Menteri Besar, would relinquish power willingly.

After all, Khir Toyo had vowed to see "zero opposition" in the state assembly, and used all the administrative authority that he could get hold of to keep his cronies in power.

Thankfully, rational prevailed.