Given the rumours of possible crossovers, some commentators have speculated that a snap election is in the offing. Such speculation increased after the Election Commission chairman asked his staff to be ready for yet another election.

If Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi maneuvers for a fresh election at the federal level, this must mean one of two things.

Either he has credible intelligence that de facto PKR leader Anwar Ibrahim has the necessary number of crossover members of parliament to form the next government or enough Barisan Nasional MPs have already declared publicly that they have switched over to Pakatan Rakyat.

In the first instance, it would be a pre-emptive strike. In the second, it would be to throw a spanner in the works so that Anwar doesn't get what he wants without a fight.