Ooi Kee Beng

COMMENT Liew Chin Tong, who is acknowledged a key party strategist, is an early proponent for a DAP thrust into Johor.

COMMENT While BN seemed to have a slight advantage earlier, the campaign period has seen the opposition catching up.

COMMENT Opposition forces within the Malay community have come of age. That is the fundamental difference. We are witnessing a Malay-Malay battle.

COMMENT Things began to go seriously wrong when Umno began turning right after its historic victory in April 2004.

COMMENT Unable to counteract BN's electoral machinery, Pakatan's steep path to Putrajaya rises to a cliff.

COMMENT Pakatan’s success in running the state will be the template for and decisive of the country’s future.

'A culture of denial is deeply embedded in the Malaysian system, helping to shore up the 'crutch culture' that the shoddy implementation of the affirmative action policy has encouraged.'