Recently there has been repeated statements made by PM Najib Abdul Razak and some BN leaders concerning their power grab in Perak and how the ‘other side' (read Pakatan and Anwar Ibrahim) started all these problems and a defection hysteria as they desperately try to convince a wary nation to accept their pathetic script.

As a Perakian, let me compare Anwar's Sept 16 deadlinea nd Najib's power grab in Perak and how each was intended to be or ended up being. Sept 16 was Anwar's ultimatum for seizing the federal government through massive defections of BN lawmakers. However, it has never materialized. BN and in particular PM Najib, can't fault Anwar for courting BN MPs because Najib argued that defections are acceptable and even Churchill once defected, of course Najib knows little of what prompted Churchill to ditch his party.

But we will forgive him knowing that he is a man who reads little. However, in Anwar's version, he sought power to better Malaysia and immediately implement pro-people policies - at least that's what he claimed. He has detailed what he wanted to do once he ends up in Putrajaya. He ruled out the idea of getting all BN MPs since a number of them were tainted and only promised to seek the help of BN's conscientious MPs.

Anwar also explained that he will use Parliament to unseat the BN PM and not make deals with anyone including the King behind the scenes since it was unconstitutional. He made it clear that he will call for a general election six months after he obtains power and in those six months he will reform state institutions like the Election Commission, the police, the judiciary and other institutions and explain his political platform and polices in detail.

Anwar also explained that he will reward poor but resource rich states like Terengganu, Sarawak and Sabah which contribute much to the national coffers but obtain little in return. He claimed that he wanted power to replace a moribund leadership that was failing Malaysia. Therefore, had he succeeded, Malaysians would have never felt mortified because he used an orthodox method that's acceptable morally and democratically, albeit with many including his supporters and partners disapproving his plan. The fact is that Anwar was open about what he wanted and why he wanted it.

On the other hand, Najib sought the help of the three most scandal-ridden politicians in Perak, a clear break from Anwar's promise to only seek BN's clean hands. Hee Yit Fong of Jelepang was the greediest element of all Perak legislators and we know how she started to throw tantrums after she wasn't made an exco member mainly due to an education handicap and later she made noise when she wasn't given a Toyota Camry and an elegant office as deputy speaker.

Some benefits she wasn't entitled to. Her rapacious greed was clear from day one and even DAP MPs like Jeff Ooi predicted as early as April of 2008 that she may ditch the party.

Najib brought down a performing government that made tremendous gains in just ten months unlike Anwar's promise to replace the lacklustre regime of Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. Unlike Anwar who had informed Malaysians of what he intended to do in Putrajaya, Najib acted in order to save face after he has been thrashed at Permatang Pauh despite mounting the sleaziest campaign ever run in Malaysia's electoral history; after he had been forced to prevail upon Umno's Abdul Aziz Sheikh Fadzir of Kulim to withdraw his petition against PKR's Zulkifli Nordin of Kulim.

Though Sheikh Fadzir was assured of winning the petition, Najib realised that meeting Pakatan and Anwar in Kulim after his disastrous outing in Permatang Pauh may be his Waterloo. Then God intervened and we had the Kuala Terengganu by-election in the Malay heartland. Najib spent a mind-boggling amount of money in KT and despite that, lost badly. It wasn't lost on all that Terengganu is a state under Umno having a two-thirds majority.

Therefore, Najib's single reason to act was to save face and show that his despite his unacceptability to Malaysians, he could provide ‘leadership' and act against the opposition. His intentions were malevolent indeed. Also Najib used unconstitutional methods to have the Perak BN MB installed unlike Anwar's promise to use Parliament.

This led to the demonisation of the Perak sultan. A stark contrast from the ululations that he used to receive from Perakians and Malaysians. People started to lampoon him. They started unearthing his and his children's business interests and that's how many of us came to know about it. Najib knows that two of his brothers have business interests with some children of the sultan. No need for names here. Malaysians know about it.

Anwar's promised a speedy economic plan and the implementation of his egalitarian Malaysian Economic Agenda (did you notice BN started to pilfer some of his platforms like the economic liberalisation?) For Najib, it was to cripple Perak's economy and reverse a healthy trend under Nizar who has made some tremendous progress.

Mida's latest report about the failing economic situation in Perak is a testimony of the malevolent nature of Najib's leadership. As a Perakian, I ask myself, do we deserve the crippling of our economy simply to save the face of Najib who fears to face us? The people's PM? My foot!

Anwar promised an election, Najib refuses elections but has the temerity to blame Anwar. Sir, Anwar was ready for an election in the event that he succeeded in his plan and it proved problematic. In your case, you are a poltroon who thinks that people' can't see through your shenanigans despite your nefarious Perak job failing.

Thanks to you, Perak today is in tatters.

Anwar didn't abduct BN legislators neither did he entrap them. He didn't use state institutions to arm twist his way into Putrajaya. For you, you abducted elected legislators using the Special Branch and later compelled them to defect so that their corruption cases can be dropped. You easily forget that the BN media has lynched them and called for their sacking.

That you settled for those vulnerable characters is a testimony of your leadership and vision, a far cry from your father who was known to collect the best brains in the nation. Razak must be turning in his grave. Now that you 'succeeded' in toppling Mohd Nizar, what have you gained? These are what you gained:

1. You reduced once glorious Perak to a failed state.

2. You made Anwar more popular.

3. You made Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin an iconic figure.

4. People will yearn for Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as PM

5. You made many Malaysians dislike the Malay royalty.

6. You united Pakatan supporters and also made many fence sitters to be pro-Pakatan.

7. You lost the people's goodwill Do you know why? Perak!

8. You have given Pakatan enough ammunition to use against you in any by-election and in the next general elections.

You will be the Gerald Ford of Malaysia. Unelected leader who ruled for a while and when he sought a mandate to rule, the people rejected him.