For the past two weeks, ever since the visitors started pouring into the Malaysian capital, there was an air of invisible discipline, which while being omnipresent was neither oppressive nor obvious. But in a politically charged atmosphere things have changed dramatically in the last 24 hours with the detention of Anwar Ibrahim, who till a few months back was handpicked by the all-powerful Prime Minister Mohamad Mahathir as his successor.

In a matter of weeks the finance minister Anwar has fallen from grace over charges of having sex with his "adopted" brother, Munnawar, a Pakistani, who confessed to the relationship in a court.

But all this failed to dampen the spirits of the Malaysians, who see the organisation of the Commonwealth Games as their way of announcing to the world that they rank alongside the very best interms of organising major events. "Malaysia Boleh" (Malaysia Can Do It) has been the slogan and they really did do it (the Games).

The closing ceremony, which began and went through without a hitch was studded with a unique dialogue with officials of the Organising Committee of the 2002 Games in Manchester via a Satellite. Pyrotechnics, local and folk music interspersed with western pop music by stars brought in specially for the ceremony kept the huge crowd of over one lakh people enthralled inside the Bukit Jalil Stadium.

Routine stuff like brass bands, performances by thousands of school children were all there. The dance and music et al emphasised the multi-racial nature of Malaysian society. The athletes, this time in informal dresses as opposed to the official uniforms they wore at the opening ceremony, as also the volunteers called "Nadi" (the Pulse) marched into the Stadium amidst huge cheers. And for the next four hours or so, they were treated to pulsating and catchy music. While establishedstars took the main stage, athletes from all over turned the Stadium into a giant dance floor swaying to the music, which had a wide variety ranging from English to Malay and Chinese.

In the morning, even as the Games entered its last stretch with a few competitions, Anwar's supporters clashed with police near the Merdeka Square, in downtown Kuala Lumpur. Police had to disperse crowds of many thousands with tear gas and water cannons. Meanwhile, Mahathir called the Anwar case as a minor distraction to the Games, which by everybody's admission has been an unqualified success. The addition of team games, the increase in the number of medals at stake -- now 213 gold medals -- and Malaysia's wonderful effort, did however, ensure that the sporting and financial future of Commonwealth Games stayed secure.

Australia for the third successive Games finished on top the medals tally, and ended the 11-day celebrations with 80 gold medals, seven fewer than the number they won in Canada four years ago and 20 short ofthe figure of 100, they had spoken off before the Games. England with 36 gold and Canada with 30 were distant second and third. Malaysia came up with their best-ever showing of 10 gold -- their pre-Games target -- 14 silver and 12 bronze. India with seven gold, 10 silver and eight bronze for a total of 25 medals came in eighth behind South Africa, New Zealand and Kenya, who occupied the fifth to seventh places on the final medals tally.