Kuala Lampur, July 21 -- Malaysia's politics has entered an era where elections are increasingly won not by sweeping ideological shifts but by carefully topping up existing vote banks.

Every coalition is searching for just enough additional support to cross the electoral finish line.

In many respects, contemporary politics resembles Malaysia's familiar Touch 'n Go card. Every journey requires sufficient credit. Without a timely top-up, progress stops at the next toll plaza.

For Barisan Nasional (BN), the attraction of drawing additional electoral support from PAS is therefore understandable.

In marginal constituencies, a relatively small transfer of votes can determine victory or defeat. Politics is frequently decided by narrow margin...