The world has changed over the night and Malaysians were shocked by recent election results. Many people lost their government posts and interests that they almost get, while some still unable to calm down.

Those who won feel happy and worry at the same time and those who lost have to deal with the aftermath of the elections.

Component parties of the BN coalition are expected to hold early party elections. Another battle seems to be starting soon.

Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting, Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu and Tan Sri Koh Tsu Koon are currently facing unprecedented pressures and blame from their party members.

The call for facing the hardship together is so weak and powerless amidst the sound of gunfire. This is a political sorrow.

The people taught the BN a lesson and called for a change. But when we are waiting to see how it turns its grief into strength and reviews itself, it keeps disappointing the people by focusing on internal conflicts. In fact, party elections are not the most important issue at the moment.

The BN coalition should accept the fact that the opposition has gained five state governments. From now on, the BN coalition should learn how to play well the role of the opposition in these state to check the new state governments for the people and to get prepared for a comeback five years later.

The country has entered an era in which the ruling and opposition parties would have to rule together and check and balance each other. This is a completely new political structure, a new turning point for democracy, as well as a crisis for the country. The new government must not only bring changes in terms of thinking and policies, it should also prove within five years that its management and capacity building is better than the old government. Otherwise, it would end up like Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party five years later.

At this very moment, it is obvious that the national interest has far exceeded the interests of political parties. If member parties of the BN coalition still cannot understand the point today, the wind of change would blew again five years later and it would be difficult to impossible for them to retrieve the regime of the five states.

“Step down if you can't do it well!” This is the people's power. Malaysians have well spoken with their votes and both ruling and opposition parties should have learned a lesson from it! (By LIM MUN FAH/ Translated by SOONG PHUI JEE/ Sin Chew Daily)