COMMENT | On the hot and humid night of May 12, 2023, my family and I were part of the crowd at Sultan Muhammad IV Stadium, Kota Bharu, waiting for the arrival of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and his team. 

We didn’t expect to see or talk to him. We just wanted to be a part of history and to feel the moment. 

As it was, we were excited just to be able to see his songkok amidst resounding cries of “reformasi” and numerous photos of others taking photos of crowds holding up handphones.

One could be forgiven if it was thought that a rock star was about to arrive.

While waiting, my mind wandered back more than 70 years to another important point in history...