Widespread anger over Anwar's cruel and inhuman treatment united the opposition parties. That the Chinese based DAP could sit down with the Muslim based PAS was something extraordinary in itself. Together with the newly created Keadilan and the tiny PRM party, the 'Barisan Alternatif' or Alternative Front was set to present a united coalition in the coming election and engage the ruling party in straight one-to-one fights around the country. It was a political watershed and perhaps the beginning of a 2 party system in Malaysia.