Forty years ago in 1969, the Alliance - the predecessor to the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition - led by Malaysia's first prime minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman, suffered a similarly massive setback in the general election. The Tunku subsequently retired and handed the prime ministership to his long-time deputy, Tun Abdul Razak, father of current Deputy Prime Minister Tun Najib Abdul Razak.

Now it seems only a matter of time before Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will have to take responsibility for the Barisan Nasional debacle and hand over his post to Tun Najib.

William Tay Kay Chiak

Best wishes, neighbour

As a neighbour, we wish Malaysians well as they tread in uncharted waters.
EUGENE TAN YING SAN, reacting to the unprecedented results of the Malaysian general election last Saturday which saw the ruling Barisan Nasional lose control of four states - failing also to recapture Kelantan - and its two-thirds parliamentary majority. A stable and prosperous Malaysia is critical to Singapore and Asean, adds Mr Tan