On March 9, 2008, a day after the general election, Perakians woke up to a new state government. The general re-action in the country was one of shock to many and a pleasant surprise to some.

Many Malaysians were upset with BN, particularly Umno. People wanted to vote against BN (not necessarily for Pakatan Rakyat). I still re-call just before that election, many still felt that BN could not be defeated; after all BN controlled the media; the system etc. How to beat a giant?

And even after five states fell to Pakatan, people still felt that they had made a mistake. ‘What have we done?' some said. I recall murmurs of ‘We did not plan an opposition state, we were just upset with BN'. ‘How-lah? My business is going to be affected? If BN is out, how is the country going to run?'

These were some reactions I recall hearing and listening when meeting my friends; not just in Perak but also the ones living in KL and PJ.

Why did we think like that? It is called conditioning. Malaysians were conditioned for years, particularly during Dr Mahathir Mohamad's regime that Malaysia cannot survive without BN. I concede, that I, too, had some time in my youth subscribed to that view. But no more now.

But how things have changed. And we must thank the Perak Incident for opening our eyes.

The many Malaysians who were not necessarily a supporter of Pakatan; but were in the 'middle' so to say; are now determined to not only vote against BN, but have started to support Pakatan instead.

Many Malaysians who threw in protest votes in 2008 were actually just fed-up and wanted to wake up BN; thinking that all BN (especially Umno) needed was a wake up call. But they now are not just fed up, but determined.

The Perak incident has changed that. It has given the people resolution, proposition and direction.

Why?

For Perak has shown the true colours of BN. The true problem in this country. Problems which have been swept under the carpet for so long have popped up.

The many people who felt 'it's okay lah, at least BN can run the country' are now beginning to think, ‘Why not, why don't we just change the government? After all Perak did fine for 11 months. Selangor is going strong. Penang is stable. Kedah is working hard. Kelantan, well Kelantan has always been special anyway'.

People now see how V Sivakumar was dragged out. How BN could manipulate the court system and have a stay granted 24 hours after the correct menteri besar was re-instated.

I have said that despite the stay, it does not mean that Zambry Abdul Kadir is the mentri besar. The high court was super clear - Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin is the Perak menteri besar.

So if there is a stay, it does not mean Zambry is menteri besar, it only means Nizar can't take office. What the court of appeals should have done is appoint an interim government, an interim MB. The courts can do that.

But Perak has shown up a lot more things. It shows a Malay leader from an extremist party like PAS can work with another hardcore party like DAP. We see DAP leaders actually reading and understanding the Quran.

We see Pakatan leaders dealing with issues, not race. We see three different parties which BN always claimed could not work together, actually working together.

So the Perak incident, has shown us the way; to go where no man has gone before (sorry, just had to quote Star Trek); to show us Malaysians that there is actually a better alternative and that is Pakatan.

Thank you Perak!