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Malaysia

Malaysia. Malaysian Political History. Successful Newly Industrialized Country with 26 million citizens Defined by communalism – 51% Malay, 26% Chinese, 7% Indian – 16% others

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Malaysia

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  1. Malaysia

  2. Malaysian Political History • Successful Newly Industrialized Country with 26 million citizens • Defined by communalism – 51% Malay, 26% Chinese, 7% Indian – 16% others • The Bargain supported a Malay head of state, Malay as official language, Islam as official religion and special privileges for Malays in education, land acquisition, and civil service

  3. Political History • Federated with Singapore, Sabah, and Sarawak in 1963 • Expelled Singapore in 1965 • 1969 Communal Riots – State emergency for 21 months • New Economic Policy instituted by Tun Abdul Razak • 1972 Parliamentary democracy returned • UMNO dominance established Mahathir holds on to power for twenty two years – brashly disciplined actors opposing him and created a legacy of growth – Succeeded by Abdullah Ahmad Badawi - UMNO stability under siege

  4. Institutions and Social Groups • Political Parties –The Alliance – The National Front (United Malays National Organization – Malayan Chinese Association – Malayan Indian Congress) and People’s Front (Democratic Action Party, People’s Justice Party, Parti Islam Se Malaysia) • State Royalty – King elected by other sultans to serve for a five year term – constitutional amendments made privileges of the sultans dependent upon parliament • Federal Parliament – DewanRa’ayat (lower house) – single member districts and Dewan Negara (the Senate) – appointed by king and elected by state legislatures • Political Islam – Revivalism inspired by communal riots – “absorption of Islamic values” caused tensions – supported U.S. war on terror against radicals in the region – Islam Hadhari ( Civilizational Islam)

  5. Democratization • Twelve National elections – All won by the UMNO – five orderly successions of power • Official Secrets Act, Internal Securities Act, and Sedition Act have imposed culture of silence around sensitive issues – Religious freedom limited • Defenders of Malaysia’s system point to the uniqueness of polycommunal situation • National Front created to mitigate divisiveness – Some accept quasi liberal democracy but others are concerned about treatment of opposition politicians, UMNO corruption, and seek greater civil liberties and fuller democracy

  6. Economic Development • Tremendous economic development with highest per capita GNI for large population state in region including availability of piped water, electricity, television sets and improvement on the Human Development Index • 1971 instituted 20 year plan to eradicate poverty and eliminate ethnicity as a function of prosperity – program extended to increase Malay share of capital ownership to 30% • Mahathir initiated Look East Policy – Export led growth – one of highest growth rates in the world during the 90s • Success put pressure on wages and threatened competitive advantage of country – Asian financial crisis slowed growth • Mahathir rejected IMF help and imposed capital controls – economy began to flourish and trade agreements are being negotiated to maintain strong growth

  7. The Malaysian State • British institutions transferred to structure to achieve Malay political supremacy • Party woven into state structures by dominating the bureaucracy • Co-optation of Malay elites, provision of roads, financial credit, medical facilities, recreational programs and so tied local power brokers to the central authorities through UMNO or local-level governmental agencies • Sufficient dislocation to create strong state • Skillful leadership such as Tunku Abdul Rahman and Mahathir bin Mohamad strengthened state institutions

  8. Foreign Policy • Member of non-aligned movement during the Cold War • People’s Republic of China main adversary because of Chinese support of communist insurgents and communal concerns but eventually recognized PRC in 1974 • Mahathir advocated ASEAN free trade area as potential rival to NAFTA and European Union – advanced ideology of Asian values • Malaysia supported entry of Burma, Laos, and Vietnam into ASEAN – 1996 tensions increased as Lee Kuan Yew brought attention to racial policies of Malaysia • Integration with world’s largest markets including the United States and China • Successful model for an Islamic state’s development offers leadership potential within the Organization of the Islamic Conference

  9. Conclusion • Since 1969 the desire for stability has kept Malaysians from relapsing into destructive identity politics and communalism • Curtailment of civil liberties went parallel with the use of market forces, international openness, strong state guidance and inclusion of the least likely to benefit into the equation • The secret to success has been cross-communal alliances underpinned by fidelity to the icons of indigenousness, protection, Malay unity, dominance and Islam

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