Kuala Lampur, Sept. 15 -- Those who witnessed Umno President Datuk Seri Zahid Hamidi's fiery closing speech at the closing of the recent Umno General Assembly will have been split into two camps. On one side would be those who believed the posturing and chest beating, subsequently concluding that the relationship between Zahid and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has collapsed beyond repair. "The general election will be any time now", they would say. They can no longer work together, how can the current government possibly stand?

On the other side would be those who believe that all that huffing and puffing was nothing more than the usual 'sandiwara'. Something to rile up the base leading into the upcoming Melaka state elections. After all,...