Predictably, Mahathir Mohamad reacted to the stunning election rebuff to Malaysia's ruling coalition by demanding that Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi resign immediately. He could not resist badmouthing his successor, claiming that he had made a big mistake in appointing Mr Abdullah in the first place.
Sadly, Dr Mahathir made a wrong diagnosis: he helped create the problem that brought about the relative defeat of the National Front, the multiracial coalition, and set Malaysia on a path to potential disaster. Mr Abdullah's fault was not in vigorously reversing or overhauling the policies of Dr Mahathir.
Equally predictably, the prime minister is refusing to bow to criticism. He admitted his 'disappointment' at having lost the customary two-thirds majority, but pointed out that the coalition had won 63 per cent of the 222 parliamentary seats, a result that would be counted in most other countries as a healthy majority.
As he was sworn in for a second term, Mr Abdullah claimed that the election results were 'proof positive that our country does indeed enjoy a free, fair and highly competitive democracy'. He cited an economy growing at more than 7 per cent, nearly full employment, more than US$100 billion in foreign exchange reserves and a record US$13.7 billion last year in foreign direct investment as further proof that the country is in excellent shape.
That is the optimistic gloss. On the other side, the government's failure was stunning, given its command of the media and the benefit from gerrymandered constituencies. In terms of the popular vote, the coalition won just 51 per cent; on peninsular Malaysia (without the votes of Sabah and Sarawak), the coalition won only 49.8 per cent. In parallel state elections, it lost control of five of the 12 states contested, including industrialised Penang and Selangor.
Mr Abdullah is boxed in. Although his own United Malays National Organisation (Umno) captured 77 seats, the principal Chinese and Indian parties in the rainbow coalition suffered heavily. Malay voters defected in large numbers from Umno, but they deserted the Malaysian Chinese Association and the Malaysian Indian Congress in droves, effectively to deprive the rainbow coalition of two of its important colours.