The Sandakan by-election on May 11 is likely to end a run of defeats for the ruling coalition.

But given that it is happening in a part of Malaysia where the Umno-PAS marriage is not a factor, the contest does not offer a true picture of the current sentiment about the government.

More damning is the recent Merdeka Center survey which indicates the government and Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad are fast losing support among the people...