Fascism in Malaysia is indeed a realistic scenario - albeit a

low-probability and long-term scenario - but one that we cannot

ignore.

The 2008 election earthquake has toppled some decayed trees, and today we bask in the sun in this small jungle clearing. But the jungle can fight back; federal powers can strangle any seedlings of change.

Federal budgetary grants to the states, federal development

departments (to disburse oil income), the police, little napoleon

bureaucrats, and federal control over local infrastructure, are

instruments that the BN has used to obstruct and usurp the power of the Pakatan Rakyat state governments.