Barisan Nasional (BN) has, as expected, won hands down with Malaysians giving in to Pak Lah's pleading for a chance to show his worth. The non-Malays must be thankful to their Malay brothers for returning to the BN fold and deserting PAS.

Without the Malay votes, BN would have been easy prey for PAS. This episode of 2004 is a lesson to all Malaysians that the country needs a united front to confront the enemies of disunity.

Being thankful to the Malays is not enough and the non-Malays too must be honest, meaning they must never again bring up issues that the Malays are not willing to compromise.

Trying to undermine Malay interests and special rights will only serve to strengthen PAS as it will then be seen to be the only Malay-based party willing to protect the privileges and rights of Malays and Islam. And Umno will be seen as weak as it is always seems to be a party that compromises Malay interests for the sake of BN unity.

The non-Malays who have seen what PAS can do in recent years will then have to contend with a much stronger PAS with a much broader Malay support. This will happen if the non-Malays try to play with fire yet again.

This is not a threat but just an insight into what some Malays think and what they are prepared to do to preserve their privileges and rights within the country's social contract.