ANTIDOTE Some Malaysians have been calling Sarawakians stupid for giving BN 88 percent of the seats in the state assembly, and for throwing a lifeline to Najib Abdul Razak and Umno.

The anger, insults and discrimination directed against Sarawakians will probably hit blue-collar workers in peninsular Malaysia hardest, while damaging Pakatan’s prospects in both Sabah and Sarawak.

Flying over to peninsular Malaysia the day after the polls, I was aware that the ink on my finger would mark me out as a Sarawakian voter. It reminded me, like a very visible bruise, of an election result that insulted everyone’s intelligence.