So once again, Anwar got what he wanted: a noisy protest rally at Kelana Jaya stadium and the international media reporting his claims of a flawed GE13, while largely ignoring evidence to the contrary.

Bersih's argument about a protest permit not being needed because Kelana Jaya stadium is a "designated place of assembly" seemed invalid given the police are required to act on public safety and security concerns regardless of the venue.

Civil society agrees: Malaysia is a divided nation, but one that may yet, and should, and must, come together.

1Malaysia Foundation Trustee Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye has called for a National Unity Consultative Council to begin the efforts toward repairing racial integration and national unity, adding that racial polarisation should be avoided at all costs.

"Multiracial living and community are part of our history and heritage. They have become a key source of racial integration for years and have certainly played a part in making Malaysia a harmonious place to live, learn, work and play," he said in a statement released to media.

While Anwar has been busy tweeting victory, claiming fraud, refusing to concede defeat, announcing he may not retire after all, trying to rally supporters for his latest protest rally, and doing his theatrical best to be at centre-stage, the rest of the world has been busy congratulating our Prime Minister on a clear victory.

Anwar may not get it, but from Washington to London to Bangkok, Singapore and Canberra, the rest of the world knows how to read an election victory.

Prime Minister David Cameron was among the first foreign leaders who telephoned Najib Razak to offer congratulations.

The Obama Administration also was quick to recognise a clear victory and congratulate Najib.

"We congratulate Barisan Nasional and Prime Minister Najib (Razak) on their victory in Malaysia's 13th general election. We look forward to working with the new government once it is formed," said US State Department spokesman Patrick Ventrell.

The dust is still settling on GE13. The post-election analysis is still underway, on all sides, those who accept the democratic verdict of the rakyat, and those who are unwilling to do so.

Yet Malaysia should be justly proud of the results of the Thirteenth General Elections. On that day, we voted and carried on with our lives as citizens of a mature democracy. Although the lead up to GE13 was partisan and divisive, we had hoped to move forward together afterward, no matter the result. Yet the aftermath is becoming worse, with accusations of bad faith on the part of the de facto leader of the opposition, and evidence of racial and class polarisation everywhere.

This should not be. There are examples before us of how to act.