Here are a selection of the many comments which we received from Malaysiakini readers.

Yin: Woo-hoo! Are you as dizzy with joy and amazement as I am? Never mind who won what seats, the results of weekend's election mean that, for the first time, Malaysians have something approaching serious political competition. What a gift to ourselves! Go us!

And now? Now, politicians, I am waiting to see what you do. Opposition governments - show us if you really have what it takes to challenge Barisan. Because if you don't outperform BN in this one term you've been given, fat chance you'll be back next time. And BN-putras? Is the message clear enough? We are fed up. Think you can fix the rot?

As for all these ‘rumours’ about riots - I don't believe them for a second. The ordinary people, I think, have made their feelings quite clear, peacefully, via the ballot box.

Kelvin: It is very vital that the PKR, DAP and PAS (although seen and clearly understood as the opposition front) should adopt to be called and referred to as the Barisan Rakyat which is in English is known as the ‘People’s Front’. Many quarters and individual voters and supporters feel uneasy to be aligned to some opposition parties but are comfortable to be associated with an alternative political coalition front.

Just as in the case of Barisan National (BN), voters know that whichever component party they vote for, they can visualise the government which will be led by the president of Umno who will be the prime minister of the country.

Likewise, Barisan Rakyat – BR should be solely marketed and advertised as the coalition name for the PKR, DAP and PAS coalition including whichever component party which may join in later on.

Joe Fernandez: After 50 years, thanks to Hindraf's makkal sakti (People’s Power) phenomenon, the voters in Peninsular Malaysia have clearly rejected racial politics and racial parties which divide and rule to benefit only a handful of leaders. PKR won big because it promised to end racial politics. The writing is on the wall for BN. Either it must get rid of its sleeping PM and merge and re-emerge as a single multiracial political party or be swept away at the next general elections.

Of the 140 BN seats in Parliament, about a third come from Sabah and Sarawak. Will they get at least 20 percent of the federal cabinet posts? Umno can now be expected to go to Sarawak and take over PBB.

Chuacj: Syabas! Syabas! Syabas! to DAP, PKR, PAS. Now we have an alternative which represents Malaysians. Syabas also to Malaysiankini for publishing the truth and exposing the wrongdoings of the BN component parties. Goodbye also to Samy Vellu, from now onwards, the Indian voice will be heard.

Let us clean up the mess that was created by BN. We also need to investigate the phantom voters and multiple voting. We should hold the EC accountable. Not sure why with the advance of computer technology, we are still doing the manual work of registering to vote.

Why is it NGOs which have no funds are able to detect so much irregularities in the system but the EC who has all the money and machinery cannot detect them? And they can just throw away more than RM2 millions overnight (for the unused indelible ink).

TF Chan: For me, I want of thank all of you for your votes in this 2008 elections! We now must look towards good governance and a check and balance on the government to bring about prosperity, goodwill, peace, harmony and respect for all religions and a better socio-economic balance for all Malaysians. Not ever forgetting a better education system for Malaysian children.

I am a Chinese and I voted for the opposition. Let's walk the talk. Please do not disappoint us.

Guan Cheng Ng: The victory of the opposition really delighted me. It resembles the enslaved African being freed by Abraham Lincoln. I hope that ‘This nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom - and that the government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth’.

Lucy Ahmed: Delighted, elated, enchanted. Those are my feelings and nothing more. We shall not waste any other word to spoil the very surreal event of Saturday! Bravo! Bravo to the five states who dared to speak out and to voice out their grievances through the polls.

It was a celebration of the unprecedented winning by these courageous five states to practice their democratic right. They now reign without fear over the predominant government in Malaysia. So we call for nothing, but for a real true celebration for all the brave voters.

The true change is in motion now, and lets keep it rolling. Bravo once more, and congratulations to the five states who started the ball rolling. This is the new Malaysia.

Joe Aussie: With the opposition victories, we have an historic opportunity to show the people an alternate vision by having a government in waiting. Let us not waste this.

Peaceout: Job well done and congrats to Malaysiakini and Anil Netto - you guys have made history during these past few days especially March 8-9. Through you, we saw the emergence of sleeping giants like Hindraf, Bersih and finally our Bangsa Malaysia which created a landslide swing and victory of sorts in this amazing elections.

Thank you very much for covering the elections right up till the wee hours of the morning. Keep up the amazing work and may you continue to stay courageous, fair and just without having to fear anyone but God and fight for the truth always. A new day has arrived! Now the real journey begins.

LoveMalaysiaRakyat: The votes have proven that the people want change and they are prepared to do something drastic to have it. They have done what they have not done do for some 50 years - speak as one united voice. This is the beginning for people want accountability, transparency and rule of law.

To the ruling party of BN, it is time to know that arrogance and injustice does not pay. You are to serve the people, not the people serve you.

To the opposition ‘coalition’, it is also the same admonition. Whilst we admire your fiery speeches, we also hope it is not a case of hot air, not a case of leopards don’t change their spots and not a case of race and religion all over again but in different clothing, We hope it is truly a ‘We love Malaysia and that is why we are in politics’. Believe me, the proof of the cake is in the eating.

Media Guru: Now that the euphoria of winning the general elections over; I would urge all MPs and state assembly members from the Barisan Rakyat to declare their assets; net worth and update this information yearly.

And also consider the option of declaring the assets of those members most closely associated with them too. This is would be the right step towards transparency and eradicating corruption. Make this information available to any public member who wishes to uncover and assess such information.

YG: Opposition, we'll throw you out in 2013 just like we did BN in four states on Saturday. You have now been given the opportunity to prove yourselves to the rakyat . Please do not take us for granted. Please prove to the rakyat that justice is thicker than money.

Peter Leow: It was great surprise for all Malaysians after the March 8 general elections. If PKR and PAS and DAP could persuade some ‘crossover’ from Sarawak and Sabah eventually, over the next couple of years, BN will be really tested on its ability.

Let’s pray that the new state governments will perform much better and set the new changes ahead of the past. They must not go on a witch-hunt or on a vengeance spree.

Bravo to all those who voted for the best of Malaysia’s interests and we pray that BN will learn positively, and manage our resources in better ways than before. Let’s pray for peace and order to be with all Malaysians.

Lily Cheong: It was certainly a tremendous win for DAP and I wish to congratulate the party for a job well done. I believe we would not have been able to do this if not for the Indian votes. Therefore, the Indians should be recognised and be given at least a leadership position in government be it chief minister or deputy chief minister.

Please do not sideline the Indians again. I am sure you can find a good Indian leader that can the community.

Wengthye Foundry: Congratulations! We are all peace-loving Malaysians. We only want what is our due. No more. No less. We have shown we are no longer scared of the bogeyman of May 13. We can have a peaceful regime change. Having differing opinions, political affiliations, faiths and beliefs do not obviate and negate our love and loyalty to Malaysia.

We showed our true patriotism by coming out to vote in droves. We showed our love and care for the state by weeding out the rot and throwing out our political garbage. Our PM did not hear the cries of the Bersih for a clean government. He did not hear the anguish and despair of the Indians. He did not hear the people asking for fairer and more transparent dealing in the government.

He did not hear the embarrassment of the people when the decadence of his government were exposed. Now he must have heard the deafening roar of the rakyat . We didn’t give up hope. Now we have hope. My Malaysia is a little brighter and sunnier. The dark clouds a little less threatening.

Yes. We can rebuild. We can renew. We can still rejuvenate. We have no choice. We are all here together in Malaysia.

Caroline O: Like most Malaysians, I shared the adrenalin that rushed during yesterday's election results. I am proud to see the people finally showing political maturity into executing a strategic move to bring about what democracy really constitutes. We displayed unity and crossed the racial divide by working together to challenge the underlying (well, not anymore) flaws the government possessed. Be it a small step or giant leap, it is significant nonetheless.

Great, fine, we have delivered the message that the government is not ‘big brother’ but it is the people who are. What next? Say we take the teacher-student relationship as an analogy. Not quite accurate, but it helps shrink the big picture and translates it into non-political jargon for laymen like me.

The head student behaves badly and doesn't deliver the responsibility that he (or she) vowed to undertake. Teachers find out. Teachers punish. Knowledge has made a transition from mutual (he knows he did wrong, and they know he did wrong, but he doesn't know they know) to common (where he knows that they know that he knows … ad infinitum ). At this point, the student not only realises that has he has been exposed, but is under tremendous pressure to offset what he has or has not done.

Now, a rational student could admit to his mistakes and work towards achieving what he initially set out to. But efficient criticism comes with praise, and hence this can only be done with the support and encouragement from the rest of the school. Think again, would the optimum solution be to strip him off his post and be thrust shame and humiliation onto him? What satisfaction does it garner us when we are unsure if his successor would do better, or won't be eaten alive by those who has the lust for power?

Let's not get too excited riding this wave of reformasi inertia. The people have spoken, but let's a take step back and listen.

Ang: Hishammuddin Hussein Onn is one of the reasons the BN lost badly. His words made the Chinese and Indians angry. He should beware when he talks. This is not the first time.