Recent events have played out well for the government and you don't need Nostradamus to tell you that Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad is lining up big things for the immediate future.

The Sept 11 terrorist attacks have created a political environment that has sent the opposition reeling - PAS' Islamist agenda has been put in a terrible light, DAP wants nothing to do with a PAS-led Islamic state, Catholic-dominated PBS wants everything to do with the Barisan Nasional's Islamic state, and Keadilan's reformist platform has been made to seem rather irrelevant and even selfish.

True to form, Mahathir has taken advantage of the situation and has gone on the offensive. He has done well by condemning both the terrorist attacks and the US-led military action in Afghanistan. He has also declared Malaysia the model Islamic state; one that has Syariah laws govern its Muslim citizens to varying degrees, the world's best-run pilgrimage operation, and the most advanced Islamic banking system of any Muslim nation. It is also an Islamic state that is remarkably stable, harmonious and economically developed, given its multi-cultural population.

In contrast, PAS' Islamic state - the party always points to Kelantan and Terengganu when asked what its version would look like - seems too 'Talibanish', especially when Kelantan Mentri Besar Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat comments on women's issues.

Now, it looks like things are being set up for the kill.

Abdul Gani Patail is the 'perfect' choice for the post of Attorney-General as he is the 'government's man' in more ways that one; he is and will be 'dependable', and he is a Sabahan, which will please voters in Sabah and, with PBS in, ensure that the state joins Sarawak and Johor in the 'sure win big' category for the next general election - expect Sabah to get more parliamentary seats in the next re-delineation exercise.

As with the AG's office, the judiciary is also being 'architected' for future plans. We have a new Chief Justice of Malaya who has drawn immediate fire from several quarters without even flexing his newfound muscles yet.

But if his appointment is already stirring controversy, wait till Chief Justice Mohamed Dzaiddin Abdullah's successor is announced at the end of next year - you can already hear Federal Court judge Mohtar Abdullah's name screaming loud and clear.

Next year also promises to be interesting as the jackboot looks poised to come down hard on PAS, which is now at its weakest since the Anwar Ibrahim saga began.

Expect to see Kumpulan Mujahideen Malaysia members return from their Kamunting 'vacation' and put on trial, which will implicate PAS in one form or another. That would go a long way in winning over fence-sitting voters and half-hearted PAS/Keadilan supporters to the government's side. The goverment might then press its advantage by using certain legal measures against PAS as a consequence of the KMM's anticipated 'confessions'.

Which leads us to the general elections; definitely a possibility in 2003, depending on how 'well' things go next year.

The only potential party-pooper? The economy. A struggling economy might prevent such political hijinks from being carried out; the government got burnt bad in the Currency-Crisis-Anwar-Ibrahim episode and might not want to risk it again this time.

But then you never know.