Kuala Lampur, Nov. 11 -- Najib Razak is now at home. After everything, he is still Bossku.

Bossku, that nickname once seemed almost absurd: a prime minister defeated in an election, facing serious corruption charges, finding a second political life as a familiar, approachable figure.

There were photographs, jokes and expressions of affection. The man Malaysians had voted out was becoming someone they were invited to feel sorry for.

Looking back, we should have taken it more seriously.

Bossku gave Najib something that losing office could not take away. He was still their Bossku, whatever the courts decided. His supporters could acknowledge that he had been convicted and still believe he deserved their loyalty. Politically, they had not...