A fortnight after the 12th general election (GE) only those in total defiance and denial could dare contest that the Barisan Nasional (BN) suffered a ‘political tsunami’.

The extent of damage this tsunami caused the BN has a parallel in the 1969 GE. The Alliance only garnered 46.2 percent of the popular vote and lost Kelantan, Penang and Perak to the opposition.

In the recent elections, BN lost five states – Kelantan, Kedah, Penang, Perak and Selangor - and were only able to secure 48.7 percent of the popular vote, including the spoilt votes.

On both occasions, the BN was denied a two-thirds majority in Parliament.