Kuala Lampur, Sept. 11 -- Bersatu means united. When Muhyiddin Yassin and Mahathir Mohamad proceeded to form a splinter party in 2016, they had less illusions about a united front but were rather fixated on picking up the last word in Umno's Malay name - Pertubuhan Kebangsaan Melayu Bersatu - to pick up Malay support.

Sounds the same, can be the same later. Displace Umno and rename Bersatu Umno. Potato, potato. tomato, tomato.

Muhyiddin and Mahathir have experience in this method. Stratagem, misdirection and patience that the people forget over policy, purpose and consistency.

In short, the breakaway party was indifferent about unity and far more obsessed with eventual dominance.

Nine years later, one centenarian founder less, the par...