If March 8, 2008 marked the shattering of the myth of Barisan Nasional’s invincibility, May 18, 2009 – the day the once formidable coalition declined to contest a by-election – may well go down in history as the beginning of the coalition’s end.

anwar ibrahim ceramah in taman medan 190509 This is the prognosis of PKR leader Anwar Ibrahim who in remarks made to Malaysiakini today expressed surprise that although BN had earlier signaled a reluctance to contest, it has elected to go with its instincts and sit out the by-election.

“They say perception is everything in politics so this decision not to contest cannot avoid being perceived as the BN finally acknowledging it is beaten in what can be regarded as its heartland,” opined Anwar.

“Penanti is a 70 percent Malay constituency. For the BN to decline to contest in an area where hitherto they would not bat an eyelid to contest is proof that, right now, uneasy lies the head that wears the crown,” remarked the PKR supremo.

“No matter how the BN dresses up this decision not to contest, the reality cannot be evaded that they are on the run – not just in Perak, but also in the semi-rural areas such as Penanti in Penang,” he added.

Between myth and reality

Anwar also commented on the incongruity of Foreign Affairs Minister Anifah Aman wanting to joust with him in court over his claim that the opposition leader had allegedly propositioned him to crossover while his own party, Umno, declines to take PKR on in a by-election.

penanti state seat penang 200409 "It tells of a coalition that cannot differentiate between myth and reality, between the essential and the extraneous, between suggestion and extrapolation,” asserted Anwar.

Anwar said this dissonance is the telltale sign of the BN’s falling apart.

“The centre is not holding because all along the periphery things are falling apart for them,” he said.

Last week, Anifah told the US press in Washington that he was offered the deputy prime minister post should he defect to Pakatan.

On Saturday, Anwar had vehemently denied he had made the offer, and had yesterday sent a legal letter demanding an apology from Anifah in seven days.

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