Huge support Anwar received in polls shows that the BN's initiative backfired

Anwar's choice of Sept 16 as the day on which he will move against the government is therefore done largely for symbolic reasons. That was the day 45 years ago when the East Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak, along with Singapore, joined Malaya to form Malaysia.

Ooi Kee Beng, TODAYonline

Malaysian's, like elsewhere in Asia, are feeling the pinch from the high cost of food and fuel, and becoming increasingly discontent with government efforts to rein in spending that cuts fuel subsidies and hurts the poor.

Luke Hunt, World Politics Reveiw

This by-election does not look very different from any other by-elections on the superficial aspect: the ubiquitous verbal assaults, smearings and slanders. The topics remain outright vulgar, with extramarital relationships, unnatural sex, even vote buying, violence, blackmails, intimidations and all those old mouldy stuffs. 

Translated by DOMINIC LOH/Sin Chew Daily

This by-election was all about Anwar Ibrahim and whether or not he could generate the momentum for his push on Putrajaya. Whilst the posters in Permatang Pauh stressed his federal ambitions, he knew he needed to win big in order to revitalise his campaign.

By KARIM RASLAN/ MySinchew

Formidable obstacles remain for Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, not least the sodomy allegation that is still hanging over his head.

Liew Chin Tong 

AUG 27 — Amidst the jubilation among delegates at DAP's post-election national congress, the party is keenly aware of its historical mission to transform Malaysia for the better, an aspiration strengthened by its long and hard road to political prominence.

By Leslie Lau

AUG 26 Now that Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has expectedly been returned to Parliament by voters in his hometown, the big question is will he become the next prime minister?

THE outcome of Permatang Pauh notwithstanding, we are in for an interesting ride from here on. Incidentally, it comes not because of changes that a politician promises, but because of the changes that would invariably come, regardless.

It will be a moral victory for BN if it manages to reduce the majority by which it lost five months ago. This will augur well with its efforts to reinvent and revitalise itself after a dismal performance on March 8.

By : Zubaidah Abu Bakar, The New Straits Times

Such swearing and confession is cheap. If such confessions are the benchmark of truth, then desperate people could simply assert their innocence successfully even when all evidence clearly points to them.

Hafiz Noor Shams, The Malaysian Insider

The by-election is no longer a democratic contest. Instead, it is the continuation of resentment between Anwar and Umno. In the "decisive battle", BN must not allow Anwar to win to prevent his power seizing plan while Anwar must win to return to the political arena.

By LIM SUE GOAN/ Translated by SOONG PHUI JEE/ Sin Chew Daily

UMNO has instead moved in the opposite direction.  It has intensified its racial agenda in an apparent attempt to consolidate and expand its core support – the Malay voters, at the expense of support from other races. 

Kim Quek

Granted, England is different from Malaysia, but I doubt the Malaysian political parties will have too many joining up from the campuses. And even if they did, so what?

By AZMI SHAROM, The Star

There are three conditions to participate in a debate:

Firstly, do your homework. Secondly, do it properly. Thirdly, fine tune it to do it very properly. This is my conclusion after being a debate judge for many years.

As Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim manoeuvres towards fulfilling his dream of becoming prime minister, some wonder if his Sept 16 target is on track, writes ZUBAIDAH ABU BAKAR

ZUBAIDAH ABU BAKAR, New Straits Times

Who decides what we read?

by Ooi Ying Nee

The Nut Graph 

The first post-1993 case against a serving Sultan has gone to full trial. The verdict will remain, forever, a signpost to guide future litigation.

Dr Shad Saleem Faruqi, THE STAR