It never fails to amaze me how Barisan National leaders (read Umno) think they can do whatever they want without giving the same opportunities to the opposition.

Our PM has just announced that the opposition members are still too immature to be allowed to hold public rallies. Just days earlier, BN had announced its 50th anniversary celebrations involving streets closure and the usual use of government machinery which they think is owned by BN. Being held so close to a general election, this is clearly an opportunistic abuse of power.

Their win-win attitude - which starts from their supposedly divine right to rule - will not allow the opposition to use public stadiums with ridiculous reasons like they are under renovation (perpetual?), or to hold rallies because their supporters will misbehave (with the instigation of high-handed police personnel?).

There are undue delays in approving mergers of opposition parties (as compared with change from Umno to Umno Baru with the adoption of the former name as though nothing has changed?) and so on and so forth.

Then, BN leaders taunt the opposition that they have lost support because unlike BN, they cannot show a big turnout at their functions or events. The main reason why the opposition is not given the chance to make use of proper facilities is that BN is afraid that a big turnout will psychologically show that it has lost support and probably the mandate to rule.

The refusal by the Registrar of Societies to approve the merger of Keadilan and PRM because of its objection to the acronym, Keadilan, is the lamest excuse so far. It only shows that BN is afraid of its own shadow.

The general election must be round the corner because the old tricks are being played. I noticed RTM 1 has been showing clips of violence in support of the continued existence of ISA, indirectly asking the people whether they want anarchy or stability as though they are synonymous with opposition rule or BN rule.

The MCA had publicity for having done good deeds like getting land titles which had long been neglected by the Land Office (wonder what they actually do especially when they refuse to employ proper accounting personnel to be more accountable: sweep problems under the carpet?) The Selangor menteri besar has organised meet-the-people sessions which had the unexpected result of some disgruntled people showing up and being arrested.

A foreigner once asked what BN stand for? He thought it stood for Bully National!