It is final. Seven-year-old Pakatan Rakyat has ceased to exist. But this has opened up a Pandora's box as to how to describe the former opposition coalition.

Quizzed on this, PKR secretary-general Rafizi Ramli likened the previous union to a "polygamous marriage" involving three parties.

"Now we are divorced but still remain as friends.

"This also gives us the space to remarry either one later," he told Malaysiakini .

Rafizi explained that the difference now is that the three parties no longer subscribe to the concept of consensus and the common policy framework as adhered to in Pakatan.

Cracks in Pakatan began to form early last year when PAS, egged on by Umno, to revive its once dormant plans to implement hudud law.

DAP had objected to this, accusing PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang of acting unilaterally in pursuing something that was not part of Pakatan's common policy framework.

In reaction, PAS delegates urged the party leadership to cut ties with DAP as its annual delegates meeting earlier this month.

Since Pakatan is predicated upon its common policy framework, DAP said PAS' decision to severe ties meant that Pakatan was dead .

Back to the drawing board

Earlier today, PKR arrived at the same conclusion .

Rafizi said the fluid nature of political coalitions is not uncommon in many countries, citing Germany as an example.

"The reason why it is so momentous in Malaysia is because we never had such a coalition which succeeded in putting up a credible challenge to BN.

"Pakatan became the beacon of hope for those who seek change," he said.

Rafizi said this undercurrent for change and the ouster of BN from Putrajaya is still very strong, thus Pakatan's supporters must not be dogmatic.

"The form of coalition has to be flexible. It is time to go back to the drawing board. The future looks exciting indeed," he said.

Rafizi also agreed that in the case of Selangor, the media should no longer use the term "Selangor Pakatan government" but "PKR-led coalition government of Selangor".