COMMENT By now it is clear that the 1MDB financial scandal, Dr Mahathir Mohamad's campaign against Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, the pain from the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and numerous examples of corruption, abuse and mismanagement of the economy and governance are not going to win the next election for the opposition coalition.

This is not to say that we should underestimate the average Malaysian's disillusionment with, and distrust of, Umno and its partner parties in the ruling BN coalition.

Even the most simpleton Umno member is fully aware of how the ketua bahagian have enriched themselves with fat contracts, scholarships for their children, jobs in the civil service for their relatives and friends, etc.