The unmaking of yet another Umno leader who fell victim to the ubiquitous poison-pen letters has raised consternation among a slew of mainstream political commentators. Such persecutions must stop, they lamented.

Not mentioned, of course, is the ex-Umno leader who now resides in Sungai Buloh prison. He, too, was struck down by a similar poison-pen attack. But never mind. Ever since former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim was declared an official enemy, his name is avoided by mainstream scribes like a plague.

Surely one of the reasons why leaders are being vilified by stealth through such practices is the opaque nature of government machinery. Part of the blame should go to the mainstream media for habitually ignoring real issues of public interests for fear of invoking the wrath of powerful politicians.

Consider, for instance, the last-minute announcement last Monday that Anwar's verdict would be delivered the next morning. That news was buried in most of the traditional media as if the fate of the country's once second-most powerful man is no longer of national significance. We beg to differ.

Why? Because on Aug 8, malaysiakini 's live coverage of the verdict drew a record number of visitors to the website: 319, 745, to be exact.

As to Abu Hassan, his sudden resignation as Selangor mentri besar might take the wind out the opposition's sails over the allegations that he fathered a child with his sister-in-law.

Then again, perhaps not.

According to Abu Hassan, the father of the said child was a Chinese who married his sister-in-law, and who carried exactly the same name as him. Apparently, they are now divorced.

But there's more. Chinese-language newspaper Sin Chew Jit Poh has discovered that this Abu Hassan Tan Abdullah is MCA Ampang division head, also called Tan Hoon or Jefri Tan.

It was reported that Tan won the division last year with Abu Hassan's backing. Ampang Jaya is after all the former mentri besar's local haunt. Already, knives are out for Tan with the deputy division head demanding his resignation for being "unwittingly" involved in the alleged sex scandal.

Like Abu Hassan, Anwar's future doesn't look too bright either. His fate will now rest with the reformasi movement, which he helped launched. If the reformasists are unable to maintain the momentum, Anwar knows well that he will rot in jail. He doesn't have to look far for examples.

Take Singapore's Chia Thye Poh. He was incarcerated by his political masters for 32 years, a forgotten blip in Asia's human rights radar.

Indeed, the people who keep the visions of Nelson Mandela, Xanana Gusmao and Aung San Suu Kyi alive are those outside the prison walls, those who are free to carry on the struggle. Is the reformasi movement up to the task? It is still to be seen.

Nevertheless, Anwar's nemesis Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad would earnestly hope that Malaysians have a short memory. For now, however, he has plenty to worry about. Like it or not, many are not entirely convinced that Anwar is guilty as charged, as malaysiakini readers' poll and comments show.

True, malaysiakini readers may not reflect precisely the public sentiments on Anwar, but a street poll, if this was done, is expected to bring similar results.

The High Court has at last given its verdict after a grueling trial. The real verdict - indeed, the one that really counts - will be decided by the peoples' court. And that, not the court decision, will determine Anwar's destiny.