Five characteristics of new political situation

Like it or otherwise, in the 2008 General Election, BN has not only (1) lost four state administrations to opposition parties but also (2) been denied its two-third majority in the Dewan Rakyat for the first time. It is also now confronting with (3) publicly expressed discontents of non-Umno allies such as MCA and Gerakan against Umno, (4) a highly factionalised Umno and (5) the evident reassertion of royal powers in the formations of state administrations in Perlis, Perak, Selangor and Terengganu. Seen in negative light, the post-election situation could be characterised as a very classic breakdown of the central authority, but if read and seen in positive perspective, it has opened up a new scenario of power decentralisation and restored checks and balances.

Umno's strategic choice affects BN allies' fate