To create trust from all the people, leaders from both sides must confront the complex and long-standing problems before us.

WE’VE voted so let’s stay calm. And all said and done, we the people haven’t done too badly at the polls. We have demonstrated we are moving towards non-race based politics and ejected extremists from Parliament.

Too bad if both sides – BN and Pakatan Rakyat – didn’t get exactly what they wanted. So to BN, sorry-lah, no Selangor and no two-thirds majority in Parliament. To PR, no Putrajaya.

I really think Malaysian voters showed great sense. They stuck to Pakatan in Selangor and Penang because they liked what they did the last five years. They also gave Kedah back to BN after trying out PAS for five years and didn’t like what they got there.

And that should be the way. Politicians must learn that they cannot rule as they like, without fear or consequence for their actions and decisions.

As I see it, there are a couple of takeaway issues from the GE13 results that politicians should really pay attention to.

One is the hunger for change. Now, just because Pakatan used ubah as their rallying cry, it doesn’t mean “change” is a dirty word.

That’s because by now, it is abundantly clear Malaysians are desperate and impatient for change and that is why they voted the way they did. And it is not just the Chinese who yearn for change. Urbanites of other races, Malays included, also wanted something different.

That’s why Nurul Izzah Anwar prevailed in her Lembah Pantai constituency over a carefully orchestrated, well-funded campaign by her rival, the Federal Territories and Urban Well-Being Minister, no less.

That’s why Ibrahim Ali lost his Pasir Mas seat in Kelantan and Zulkifli Noordin in Shah Alam.

What sort of change voters want is well documented in many commentaries, blogs and articles. In a nutshell, it is a cry for better governance, stemming corruption, for truly independent entities that are supposed to uphold and safeguard democracy and citizens’ rights.

It is a demand for public safety, a top class education system and a country that works on meritocracy and needs-based policies.

But change is a scary thing. Nobody really likes change if they can help it. Even changing lanes on a busy highway can be unnerving and dangerous. So a good driver will only change lanes after careful consideration: he checks his mirrors on the traffic behind and looks ahead to make sure he has room to manoeuvre.

Then there is the other kind of lane-changing; one that is made out of desperation or impatience. It happens when you are trailing behind a slow-moving lorry for ages on a two-lane road and you are fed up at going at 30kph.

In such a situation, you start looking for the slightest opportunity to overtake. It means taking a risk in the hope that you can accelerate fast enough and get back in your lane without a head-on collision.

So what kind of “lane-changing” did Malaysians do on Sunday? Was it a measured, well-thought out decision to switch because they believed it was timely and safe to do so or was it a wild and reckless move because they had lost patience?

I think it was a bit of both. Pakatan didn’t pick up enough speed to overtake and is still stuck behind the BN lorry on the road to Putrajaya for the next five years.

The good thing is both coalitions are moving and have not broken down nor driven themselves into a ditch. If they can keep on truckin’, they have the chance to really work hard to win our trust, which is the next takeaway issue.

For the next five years, both BN and PR must figure out how to convince the vast majority of Malaysians that they indeed have the nation’s and our best interests at heart.

Najib tweeted after being sworn in as PM before the King: “I will serve as Prime Minister for all Malaysians.”

That’s the kind of inclusiveness that this country needs. But he must convince the Chinese that it is not mere rhetoric.

I believe Najib will want Chinese representation in his Cabinet and I’m sure he will find qualified people, a la Idris Jala style, to appoint.

While he’s at it, perhaps he can also consider appointing qualified Malaysian Chinese to head a few GLCs.

As for Pakatan, I noticed how at their ceramah, they kept crowing about their shiny achievements in Selangor and Penang as proof of their ability to govern but kept absolutely silent on Kedah and Kelantan. Ho hum.

Also, although we had the surprising spectacle of Chinese voters waving PAS flags, let’s be honest about it: there is deep doubt and disquiet over such strange bedfellows with different ideologies.

If nothing is done about this, the tentative trust earned by Pakatan this GE will dissipate in no time at all.

There is much that needs fixing and nobody said it would be easy because it involves undoing some pretty unpleasant Gordian knots that tied and held us back for so long.

The problem is we don’t have much time to unpick them slowly. That’s because there’s a big, bad world out there we have to compete against and our neighbours are forging ahead.

Can either side show us that they will do what Alexander the Great did with his Gordian knot?

> Despite the brouhaha over indelible ink, this aunty had a kick spotting stained fingers on so many people the day after. It was an unspoken sign that we had done our duty as citizens. Feedback please to junewong@thestar.com.my

• New SARS-like virus can probably pass person-to-person
• Nurul Izzah says not eyeing PKR presidency when mum steps down
• Coronavirus epidemic awaits, not certain to be severe - discoverer
• Merkel says has no secrets about her communist past
• Appeals court frees six backers of black-clad Egypt protest group
• Scomi Group secures RM98.5m Turkmenistan contract
• Who will be the new IGP?
• Italy's Letta urges ministers to avoid clashing in public
• Greek state workers to strike against teachers' walkout ban
• Brothers of Cleveland kidnap suspect say he was aloof for years - CNN