"The buses, Chang. Look ... the buses are leaving."

"Where are they going?"

"It looks like they are heading back toward the North-South Highway."

"Why are they leaving? What do you suppose happened, Wan?"

"We are witnessing history, my friend. Let's have a tea."

"Yes, a tea. What do you think this means?"

"The tide has turned ... "

"Tide? ....

"Just look at them, Chang ... they are driving away. It is beautiful. It is the end of an era."

"You think so? Do you mean the end of the Umno-BN era?"

"Chang, we are witnessing the first significant confrontation between the opposition and the administration in which the opposition has won."

"I'd say we should wait until the end of the day."

"Chang, in a democracy the important event is the election. It is the election which determines who will take office. Those who hold office in a democracy determine its morality."

"OK, I agree. But what does that have to do with those buses?"

"Those departing buses represent the failure of a big and carefully planned operation. The buses were chartered days ago. The drivers were hired. The passengers were recruited. Both drivers and passengers were given instructions. Do you see that?"

"It sounds reasonable."

"This involves a major expense, and now the money is wasted. More importantly, there was a goal, and the goal has not been accomplished."

"It probably did cost a lot. But what was the goal?"

"The drivers were given instructions to deliver the passengers to specific sites in Lunas. They didn't do that. The passengers did not reach their destination. That was the failure."

"Why not? Because the drivers were stopped on the way?"

"Not just that, Chang. The drivers were anticipated. People knew they were coming, and were waiting for them. The buses were intercepted. There was foreknowledge. There was sufficient manpower, and that manpower had courage and determination. That is historical, Chang."

"It doesn't seem very historical to me."

"It is. It is historical because this carefully planned operation was anticipated. It was expected because people who used to drive the buses, who used to be the passengers, who used to plan these excursions, are now among the opposition. That is what is new. Many people have changed sides, and they are in such numbers that the Umno-BN planners cannot now carry out a standard procedure designed to win an election. That is historical."

"But this is only one incident, one little election. Do you think it is particularly meaningful?"

"Yes ... I do."

"Why?"

"Because now the opposition knows exactly how the game is played. The Umno-BN knows one of their major methods is exposed. More importantly, the Malaysian people see how the game is being played."

"Do you think so? Do the people really see? I wonder about that."

"Chang, there were lots of allegations of electoral fraud before ... of phantom voters, of altered registration lists, of illegally registered voters, of lost ballots and ballot boxes ... on and on ... and many of these cases were later brought to court."

"But none of the cases were won."

"That's true. And everyone wonders why, after the last general election, the law was changed so now all the costs are assigned to the challenger, making it prohibitive to get a hearing or reversal on a fraudulent result."

"Wan, do you think the Umno-BN won the last general election?"

"No. I think they cheated. The seats won by some ministers close to the prime minister were obscenely irregular. The fact that they are now known to be capable of cheating is significant, because it means that the entire administration is suspected of being in office through fraudulent election practices. This knowledge undermines their mandate to administer the government and execute the laws. The ministers are all carrying a great burden of guilt. That is one reason why Malaysia is in such a bad state today."

"And now you are saying these departing buses tell you something is different?"

"Certainly. The opposition obviously now has the manpower to carefully monitor elections, stopping the fraudulent practices by force if necessary. They can now ensure that elections will truly reflect the will of the people. They are determined not to be cheated again."

"Wan, how could this bus incident happen without the Election Commission being involved?"

"Ahhh ... now you are beginning to see the picture."

"About the role being played by the Election Commission?"

"Yes. Just now, when the buses were stopped there, the question was raised whether the passengers were legitimate voters in the Lunas district. The Election Commission officer refused to verify whether the passengers were or were not registered to vote here."

"Why would he not verify?"

"Think about it. If the election rolls show that the passengers are registered, and they are subsequently found to not be legally entitled to be registered, then it will prove that the Election Commission has registered illegal voters, and is involved in the fraud. Public confidence will be shattered."

"OK. But suppose the passengers are not registered to vote in Lunas. By showing this the Election Commission could have cleared both themselves and the bus passengers. No suspicions would be raised."

"But the Election Commission didn't do that, did they?"

"No. And it does look as though they have been caught red-handed."

"Correct, friend Chang. And that suspicion reflects on the Election Commission. It gives everyone the appearance that the Agong and the Conference of Rulers is not exercising oversight, as required by the Constitution."

"Will the Agong and the Conference of Rulers now act to restore public confidence in the Election Commission?"

"That is to be seen. A great deal is at issue these days, and the role of the rulers is being carefully watched. Whether they show diligence in the restoration of the people's rights, or are seen as supporting the Umno-BN election fraud will determine future public support for the rulers."

"Wan, suppose the Umno-BN wins today ... that they win even though the buses have been turned away."

"It is possible. But the whole atmosphere today suggests that even if they manage a win, by fair means or foul, this effort to bring in phantom voters will be seen as unethical behaviour unbecoming to the Umno Muslim leadership. The allegations that Umno is incapable of administering the government using an acceptable standard of ethics are shown to be real."

"How do you mean?"

"Chang, whenever something like this happens, there is never an investigation. The administration does not demonstrate any interest in fair elections. That makes them look not only culpable in this fraud, but generally incapable of executing the laws. They cannot, because they are themselves criminals."

"But suppose police reports are filed? Won't that force the administration to act?"

"Chang, in these times, the ones who file the police reports are more likely to be arrested than the ones who actually committed the crime."

"Yes, Wan. That is sad, but so true, so true."

"No need to feel sad, Chang. History has been made today. We have seen a changing of the tide. And though the reversal may be slow, it is powerful. Soon it will be more apparent."

"I hope so. It has been a long wait. For those directly oppressed it is still a dark night."