COMMENT | Yesterday, we celebrated the eighth anniversary of the May 9, 2018 transition from an electoral one-party to a revived multiparty democracy.

The transition is not, and must not be seen as, the downfall of Umno-BN. The transition is the call for all parties to reinvent themselves to be competent in mature multiparty competition.

It is for the old ruling parties to learn how to compete without power abuse and excessive incumbency advantages, and the old opposition parties to learn how to govern measuredly and balance the interests of all communities and sectors.

In the past eight years, we have had five prime ministers.

Instead of only two national blocs, we now have three national coalitions, two regional coalitions and numerous smaller parties in Parliament.

All major parties have been friends and foes. Going back to 2008, all major parties had each other as partners in government and also rivals in elections.

This takes away any moral high ground by any party about other parties having unholy or unworthy partners. The 16th general election is expected to see different combinations of multi-cornered fights in constituencies, possibly involving some new parties.

Election outcomes would decide which parties will...