Strangely, however, given the stakes involved there has been an absence of broadsides between the dramatis personae: Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, the Umno president and incumbent MP for Bagan Datuk, and Anwar Ibrahim, Pakatan Harapan’s prime ministerial-designate and aspirant MP for Tambun.

This would be about as remarkable as Joe Biden muting his fire against Donald Trump in the run-up to the mid-term elections in the United States.

Not only noticeable was the absence of crossfire between the head honchos of Umno-BN and Harapan, the contesting coalitions together with Perikatan Nasional, in GE15, there is also a reluctance to take up hostilities on the part of supporting casts.

When Zuhdi Marzuki, a PAS strategist, called the other day for a special collaboration between Perikatan Nasional and BN to defeat Anwar in Tambun, in order to end, once and for all, the “endless” political broils that Zuhdi claimed the Harapan leader had caused the Malaysian body politic, Umno’s Ahmad Maslan promptly shot down the proposition.

Maslan said at GE15, Umno was going it alone, sans electoral pacts with PAS or anyone else.

Further evidence of an armistice between the lead protagonists of Umno-BN and Harapan could also be seen in the silence that greeted DAP elder statesman Lim Kit Siang’s suggestion that Anwar allow the candidature of Tawfik Tun Dr Ismail for the Bagan Datuk seat to be fought under Harapan colours.

Tawfik, initiator of Gerak Independents, the movement to keep MPs true to their calling of fighting for the rakyat’s interest, and not just for their career or party interest, has styled his campaign to unseat Zahid as “Rakyat vs Rasuah” – an allusion to the slew of corruption charges the Umno supremo faces in the courts.

Kit Siang’s proposition has been ignored by Anwar whose PKR is fielding a Harapan candidate in Bagan Datuk, a figure who is as nondescript as the Umno division leader in Tambun who is being touted as the party’s contestant.

The division leader is a Zahid loyalist who can be counted on to do exactly as his mentor commands. This is more grist for the theory that Anwar is as permissive about Zahid in Bagan Datuk as the latter is of Anwar in Tambun.

Man on the Silver Mountain : That Anwar, Harapan leader, should choose to stand in Tambun, a Malay majority seat, is a dare he undertakes to make a statement. Harapan is serious about GE15 and confident too. What is the point if the main opposition coalition merely settles for being just an opposition?

It is also a courageous act with critical consequence. Thus, it destroys the myth that he is crazy to be PM for personal reason instead of wanting to implement his reformasi inspiration. The outcome is not guaranteed, unlike, if he wants to, in PD. PAS called a special collaboration between Perikatan Nasional and BN to defeat Anwar in Tambun, in order to end, once and for all, Anwar’s political career.

A typical of PAS politic of hate and obsession against an individual opponent. At least common sense prevails, where not everybody answered to this call. Has PAS ever noticed that nobody called for an end to the political career of Hadi Awang, who is not exactly well-liked by the populace? PAS is another people who would not take no for an answer.

UMNO already dissociated themselves with PAS. So, what is this Terence Netto talking about? Look like he is piqued about certain candidate of his that was not selected to stand for the election. Just for Terence’s information, not that he does not know, which do you think in case of a stalemate, the likely partnership for a coalition government?

1. Harapan and PN (Bersatu and PAS)

2. Harapan and BN (UMNO, MIC and MCA)

3. Harapan and GTA (Pejuang and company)

That possibility may present itself. No issue if Harapan win handsomely, they do not need anybody. It is a weak attempt to compare Biden and Trump in this election. Who is supposed to be Biden and who is supposed to be Trump?

The former is approaching 80 but his cognitive is probably older than his age. Trump is a billionaire, probably not difficult to compare him to similar figure in Malaysian politic. Anyway, Terence Netto is a bit overboard in this comparison, certainly so for a columnist of any respectable repute.

And Justice For All : In a multi-cornered fight with a high possibility of a hung parliament, who are PH's real enemies? PeeEnd with all its traitors who brought down an elected govt against the wishes of the people?

The extremist PUSS who always says their true enemy is DAP, PKR and Amanah and will never change their stand? or is it DUMNO with all its kleptocrats? Or Mamakkutty (this one is a traitor, extremist and kleptocrat extraordinaire all in one so do you really need to evaluate him)?

Final analysis, Klepto's can be jailed (one down, few more to go) end of story. But what can you do with traitors and extremist? What choice do you really have. If your argument is "you must do the honorable thing", then Im sorry to say, there is no place for honor in politics.

However, politics is the only place where you test the art of compromise to the fullest. Many will have a different view of how things should play out post GE15. But lets get real about the possible outcomes ya. And, as far as Terrence Netto is concerned, well...lets just say he is not a fan of Anwar. I have never heard him say anything good about Anwar. Not even once. Not even for the sake of variety. So lets just leave it at that.

Gerard Lourdesamy : What type of journalism is this? Is it based on facts and evidence? Nothing but speculation and suppositions. This is really below the belt from Terence just because his good friends Charles Santiago, Sivarasa Rasiah, Maria Chin Abdullah, N. Surendran and a few others did not get seats in GE15.