ANALYSIS In recent general elections, Perak has not ignited much excitement. Not this time though, because on top of the sudden ouster of the state government following the 2008 polls, opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim will be in town.

But why and where? This article tries to shed some light on both questions.

Anwar, who is most likely on his final bid for premiership, could have taken the easy road and stayed put in Permatang Pauh , a parliamentary constituency in Penang mainland which has been his stomping ground for three decades.

He has been the elected representative there since 1982 - apart from the nine years when he was out in the cold battling sodomy and corruption charges - and there is little sign that the local folk will remove him any time soon.

But south of the state border, things are more uncertain...