The opposition became the ruling party in Perak, Kedah, Penang and Selangor overnight. Meanwhile the ruling party turned into the opposition. The people were stunned with these big changes. Their reversed identity came too suddenly, and they got bashed by it.

What is even more confusing is that you are the opposition party in the state, but you are the ruling party in the Parliament. I'm the ruling party in the state and but I'm the opposition in the Parliament. The identity disorder has resulted in the chaos between the political parties.

If it is said that the ruling party misjudged the situation and thus suffered great loss, it is also the same for the opposition. They simply do not have expect that they could gain such a great victory, and has not fully prepared themselves to rule.

Everything is beyond our forecasts. Before the elections, no one expect that there will be such a new political structure.

Now, the fact is that two-line government has been formed. The ruling and opposition parties is in line with mutual checks and balances as well as mutual supervision. It is now a new opportunity for the Malaysian democracy. However, the future of this new opportunity has many unknown variables and crises.

Let alone the different ideology, even the basis of cooperation between the opposition is also very weak. The dispute over the position of Perak Minister Besar, Hindraf wants an Indian Menteri Besar, PAS opposed the idea to abolish the New Economic Policy and so on, show the internal contradictions between the opposition after they defeated their common enemy. It is worrying.

We can predict that the opposition will continue to have more conflicts in the future. They still need more time to carry out adjustments and integration as well as greater mutual understanding, in order to reach a consensus. Therefore, their future governance process will be full of twists and turns.

This elections is a turning point in the Malaysian history. It creates a new pattern for the distribution of power. However, it also means that Malaysia's politics has reached a stage of unprecedented fear. The next five years remains highly variable, with severe tests waiting for them. Not only it tests on governing ability of the five opposition state government, but it also test the delicate relationship and its development between the central government and these five states.

Where is the future of Malaysia? Is it a reconciliation? Is it a cooperation? Or the confrontations still continue inside and outside the parties?

The voters have already conveyed their frustration through their ballots in the general elections. At the moment, they should introspect and ponder on the future together calmly and work together. They should put aside their differences, settle the chaotic situation to reach a certain degree of mutual compromise as well as to unite rationally and tolerantly. They should bring the country back to normalcy as soon as possible.

The elections are over, and everything is a foregone conclusion. The people must get out from the elections battles. The ruling and the opposition parties need to accept the results and the people's decision calmly. Now, there is no any other interest that can transcend the interests of the state and the people's well-being. The five state government and the central government must try to establish a new mechanism of cooperation as soon as possible to stabilise the situation, and to implement conducive development plan jointly. They couldn't be overwhelmed by the victory and continue their fighting.

Whether we like it or not, we must all rationally think and recognise the fact that “regardless of how great our differences are, our fate has linked us closely to each other”. In addition to get rid of polarised politics, we should also compromise, continue our mutual tolerance and get around peacefully. We have no other choice.

It is an era that shows the strength of the people to pursue changes and seek reconciliation. Seeking consensus among the differences is the voice of this new era. Can you hear it? (By LIM MUN FAH/ Translated by LEE MEI NYEE/ Sin Chew Daily)