comment Gauging the impact of Bayan Baru MP Zahrain Mohd Hashim’s departure from PKR - whether it is a harbinger of crisis in the party or a storm in a teacup - is complicated for a number of reasons.

Zahrain yesterday made good on an implied threat to leave, signaled a fortnight ago by his attack on Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng. He had since expanded the range of his attacks by including PKR supremo Anwar Ibrahim as a target.

With the brazenness of those attacks, Zahrain has burned his bridges. His departure was confirmation of an alienation from PKR and Pakatan Rakyat too radical to be healed by mediation or corrected by disciplinary action.          

But Zahrain is a party lightweight, despite having being PKR chief for Penang for some years before he was replaced last October. His departure is not expected to have repercussions on, say, the strength of...