A number of international media reported that Malaysians headed to the polls amidst racial tensions. They showed pictures of Hindraf supporters throwing rocks, PAS within the Bersih march and the FRU spraying teargas on demonstrators. It gave the misleading picture that racial strife was the main factor for the defeat of BN.

I don't believe that analysis is correct. I believe that we are seeing a new nationalism. Malaysians are asking - ‘what does it mean to be a Malaysian?’ In fact, they're not only asking, they answered it with their votes. It's a search for a new Identity. We want a Malaysia where all Malaysians are equal.

That is why we saw such a high turnout of first-time voters who predominantly voted for the opposition.

These are the younger generation who were born after independence and who do not share the divisive racial politics that came with the creation of the Malaysian nation state. They ask: Why should some Malaysians be less equal than others?

They vented their frustrations through the unofficial channels. If BN leaders had bothered to read blogs and web news, they would have had more than an inkling of how huge this discontentment was. Instead, they only believed in the mainstream media that has ironically created a bubble of illusion that led to their own downfall.

Non-Malays voted overwhelmingly for the opposition because they don't want to be 2nd and 3rd class citizens anymore. The Indian's call for Makkal Sakti- People Power demolished the MIC. Their so-called ‘minority’ vote tipped the scales against BN.

As for the swing of Malay votes away from the BN, there was palpable disgust that the BN is not doing enough to fight corruption and bumiputera privileges meant little to them when they feel that wealth is only distributed among BN cronies.

Anwar Ibrahim is savvy and he had echoed this sentiment at all his ceramah. He called for an end to the NEP, and still attracted the Malay votes. And that's because the opposition coalition recognised that cry for equality and answered it - justice and equality for all. Even PAS caught on. Nik Aziz says Islam does not discriminate. I saw many Indian youths and elderly Chinese bearing PAS flags campaigning for PAS. The only parties that are oblivious to all this, well are the ones in BN.

They are still scratching their heads wondering what hit them. They can't hope to understand because their very existence is what is so hateful to many. They represent the old politics of divide and rule. Race-based politics where Umno must be king to all other groups. And if you are not Malay by their definition, you are merely a pendatang here by their grace. ‘We should be grateful’ is perhaps the most oft repeated line of the BN leaders to any dissenting voice.

I say to them is they who should be grateful for the overtime we have given them.