THIS has not been the best of times for Bersatu deputy president Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin whose political ambitions appear to have suffered a setback.

SOME thought it reflected his sincerity, others said Bersatu deputy president Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin appeared rather desperate to prove that he is the "president's man".

NOT many politicians in the country have publicly commented on the flames of anger that broke out in Indonesia but all of them have been closely watching events across the Straits of Malacca.

NURUL Izzah Anwar's nickname in PKR is "Princess" although for a long time she was simply "Izzah" to almost everyone in the party.

THE people power phenomenon sparked off by the Zara Qairina Mahathir tragedy has yet to recede but the temperature has come down a bit and the storm is no longer threatening to blow those in power off their feet.

A perfect storm looms over the approaching Sabah election as public sentiments continue to simmer over the controversial death of a 13-year-old schoolgirl.

The Chinese vernacular press went to town last week with reports on several incidents that were seen as causing embarrassment to the community.

FOR some Chinese intelligentsia watching on, the protest rally last week was more than just about putting pressure on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. It was another reminder of the racial divide that has shaped the politics of the country.

The opposition is borrowing from the Pakatan playbook of employing street rallies to undermine the image and standing of the prime minister.

SOME said it would be a secret meeting but how can it be a secret when the attendance list comprised so many division leaders of Umno?

The former PKR deputy president has become a newsmaker as he stirs public awareness on the need to defend the independence of the judiciary.

Despite the wave of discontent among the common folk over a string of issues, Anwar is still the people's leading choice going by his 55% approval rating in a recent survey.