The dust settled quickly after Abdullah Badawi’s kiss of death announcement on 4 June, raising the price of petrol and diesel by 41 percent and 63 percent respectively. It was like the sun intended one last rising for the ‘flip-flop’ prime minister to sing his swan song. He is still refusing to retire, waiting to be cast out by delegates’ votes in December.

If there’s ever a need for Umno to hold an emergency general meeting to oust the party president, the occasion is certainly here and now. Umno and the BN are defenseless against the people’s woes now that prices have risen once again like the dead, to haunt.