The fight for Permatang Pasir is heating up to unprecedented levels. The heat may not be felt on the ground as much as in cyberspace. This is the new reality of Malaysian politics. For those in urban areas with good access to the Internet, technology has made every by-election a kind of general election.

It has also made whatever politicians say easy to record. This means politicians have to do something which they have never done before (and apparently can never do) - be consistent. On both sides of the political divide, this has resulted in tragic-comedy.

In Malaysia, the task of the politician is very difficult. He/she has to speak to different communities in the most sensational way possible. In Shah Alam, for example, some say that if a certain party comes to power, pork would be sold openly in the streets. They know that this may not be a credible statement but it will at least grab headlines, thus proving their credentials as champions of race and religion.

But when in Bangsar...