analysis Since the shocking election results last month, we have been having sporadic discussions on whether people voted for the opposition or whether they voted against Barisan Nasional.

This type of discussion could very easily degenerate into a debate on semantics. To avoid this, we need to phrase the issue clearly. Did voters intend for the opposition to win or was it a protest vote against BN?

Understanding the difference between the two is important since they have very different electoral implications for the future.