Although Umno has technically or formally won the Pendang parliamentary seat with a razor-thin margin of 283 votes, it is a great loss in fact and substance.

This is because Umno controls all the major dailies, TV and radio stations. Opinion-making powers are monopolised by Umno, while PAS can only rely on house-to-house visits, ceramah (public talks) and pamphlets.

The situation can be likened to ex-IGP Abdul Rahim Noor physically attacking a blind-folded and handcuffed Anwar Ibrahim. It is simply dishonourable, and shows an utter lack of a civilised sense of fairplay.

Yet, despite the fact that the field is not level, PAS still won Anak Bukit. It shows that Umno is not as strong as it is projected to be.

So, while Umno's victory in Pendang is dishonourable, PAS' success in Anak Bukit is remarkable.