COMMENT | The scene on July 26 was familiar: Malaysia’s opposition gathering, banners aloft, voices raised against the sitting prime minister.

Yet, beneath the surface, this rally was profoundly different. Not only did it proceed peacefully - a stark departure from the water cannons and tear gas of past eras - but it culminated in a remarkable paradox: the apparent strengthening of the very man it sought to topple, Anwar Ibrahim.

Far from striking a decisive blow, the opposition’s event may well be remembered as a pivotal moment solidifying Anwar’s democratic credentials and inadvertently boosting Malaysia’s global standing.

Many are even saying that the rally has boosted Anwar’s chances of another term.