During the Malacca state assembly that was held in July, the word pengkhianatan (betrayal) had caused a commotion in the hall.

Former Pakatan Harapan - now Perikatan Nasional - exco protested the use of the word by Harapan reps, claiming that it is hurtful (menyakitkan hati, as per Section 20 (m) (iii) of Standing Orders of the State Legislative Assembly) and that it was an inaccurate accusation because what they had done was not a betrayal, but supposedly “saving the country”.

Whether or not the word pengkhianatan was an accurate description for their defection that formed the PN regime, is still up for debate. However, this much is certain: the PN regime has yet to legitimate itself as a government that is fit to lead...