Kuala Lampur, June 19 -- Raf for now: Don't look back in anger!

JUNE 19 - It only took 70 years to get here. Not sure it'll last, but for now, it's real.

In Malaysian mainstream politics when top positions are vied for in major parties, incumbents when defeated depart in the worst possible way. So much so, within parties, the cautionary tale is that leadership battles can end the party.

Which is why, the decision by Rafizi Ramli post-defeat to stick around has major significance.

All the way from Tengku Razaleigh vs Mahathir Mohamad in 1987 to Anwar Ibrahim vs Ghafar Baba in 1993. Even further back, in 1951, Abdul Rahman Abdul Hamid replaced exiting Onn Jaffar. Over in PKR, the ambitious left when defeated even if not the incumbent. ...