When PKR president Anwar Ibrahim announced on Sept 23, exactly a week after Malaysia Day, that he had secured the backing of enough MPs to form the new government, it rekindled memories of a similar attempt by him 12 years ago.

On the eve of Malaysia Day in 2008, Anwar declared to tens of thousands of supporters at the Kelana Jaya Stadium in Petaling Jaya that Pakatan Rakyat, the predecessor of Pakatan Harapan, had secured enough numbers to form the new government...