After announcing the permanent land titles for all villages and planned villages, the Perak government also agreed in principle to allow all nine independent schools and 188 Chinese primary schools in the state to pay a nominal sum of RM1 in quit rent.

Even as former Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad was lashing out at his successor Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in Petaling Jaya Tuesday (1 Apr), the comeback kid, Anwar Ibrahim, was announcing the formation of an alternative coalition, or a government- in- waiting, in his parlance.

Sabah an Sarawak BN component parties are not satisfied with the allocation of cabinet posts, and started their “shadow boxing”. It provides an interesting question. If BN was to award the people according to the number of seats they won in the elections, then how should the BN component parties allocate the cabinet positions?

Sabah is known as “Land Below The Wind” but typhoon of discontent is building up so fast among the BN component partners in Sabah that Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is flying there next Monday to calm the tempest.

Three weeks after the general elections, the federal government and five state governments formed by the Opposition have brought out several new policies but we would need another two months of observation to see whether the country is on the right track of reform.

DAP Buntung assemblyman A. Siva Subramaniam’s U-turn in quitting from the DAP and returning to the fold within hours is a silly joke but it was real enough to cause a near crisis for the new Perak government.

DAP Buntong assemblyman A. Sivasubramaniam is a farce to resign and retract his resignation within seven hours.

DAP Buntong assemblyman A. Sivasubramaniam shocked the Perak coalition government by quitting from his party Monday (31 Mar) morning, but took a dramatic turn by retracting his resignation seven hours later.

The Office of the Perak Menteri Besar Monday (31 Mar) announced the list of portfolios for each of its executive councillors who were sworn in on Saturday, as well as the portfolio for Menteri Besar Ir Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin who will also be responsible for Economic Development, Land and Natural Resources, Rural Development and Security.

Suddenly, Malaysia has become the most exciting place in Southeast Asia - not for its Manhattan-like skyscrapers or even its "Truly Asia" self-indulgent slogan.