.... Fiscal pressures—high debt, declining revenues, rising cost of living, and a persistently weak currency—constrained room for maneuver, while state-level and societal cultural contests tested Malaysia’s multiracial, multireligious tolerance. The unity government broke promises, as well, some...

...Kai Ostwald; Muhamad M. N. Nadzri Malaysia held a general election in 2022 that was expected to resolve ongoing political instability. Instead, it produced a hung parliament, reflecting a deeply divided electorate and growing support for Islamist politics. Following a royal intervention, Anwar...

...Kai Ostwald Malaysia remained firmly in the grip of both the COVID-19 pandemic and economic turmoil in 2021. Ongoing political instability led to an emergency proclamation that suspended Parliament for the first time since 1969, followed by an unprecedented public rebuke of political leaders...

... government as well as the reconsolidation and strengthening of the new opposition, up to the emergence of the new Perikatan Nasional government. ANDREAS UFEN The Downfall of Pakatan Harapan in Malaysia Coalitions during Transition ABSTRACT In May 2018 the Malaysian governing coalition Pakatan Harapan (PH...

...James Chin; Taufiq Tanasaldy In the late twentieth century, the Chinese communities in Indonesia and Malaysia were politically repressed. But recent events have prompted optimism that the Chinese communities in both countries could move forward and claim their rightful place as equal citizens...

...Abdul Rashid Moten In the 14th general election in Malaysia, the opposition coalition overturned the ruling coalition’s entrenched incumbency of over six decades. The ruling coalition suffered from a legitimacy deficit and corruption scandals. The election witnessed four coalitions of parties...

...Muhamad Takiyuddin Ismail; Abdul Muein Abadi Germany is one of the major democracy promoters in Malaysia. Contrary to popular opinion, most of Germany’s democracy assistance is “regime-compatible.” By focusing on the role played by Germany’s political foundations, this article argues...

..., tied to the same congruence, offer no strategic gains to alter the status quo. © 2016 by the Regents of the University of California 2016 Malaysia democracy ethnocentrism power Islamization AJAY RAINA Why There Are No Partisan Turnovers in Malaysia A Perspective ABSTRACT This paper...

...Dominik M. Müller Brunei and Malaysia are promoting the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration but enforce a brand of Islamic law that systematically violates it. The paradoxical ways in which policymakers are navigating between the two, and the empirical realities of Islamic governance, impede the project...

...Liu Yangyue This paper examines how Internet control strategy in Malaysia was shaped by particular forms of online political contention and by a well-coordinated online civil society. It also traces the shift of this strategy to more covert means in the 2011 Sarawak State election. © 2014...

...William Case The most important event to take place in Malaysia during 2013 was its general election. The incumbent National Front government was returned to power, though with less than a majority of the popular vote. The government then rewarded Malay supporters with new affirmative action...

...Meredith L. Weiss The incumbent coalition claimed victory in Malaysia’s 13th general elections in May 2013, securing a simple majority of parliamentary seats despite losing the popular vote. The dramatic result raises questions not only about the probity of the electoral process in Malaysia...

...William Case During 2012, Malaysia’s Prime Minister Najib Razak undertook a number of political and economic reforms. At the same time, his rival, former Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, was found not guilty of sexual misconduct charges. However, major corruption scandals continued to break...

...Michael O'Shannassy Ethno-religious controversies, noisy demands for political change, and growing concerns over the slow pace of crucial economic reforms all served to highlight Malaysia's constantly shifting sociopolitical terrain in 2011. With the prospect of an early general election...

...Michael O'Shannassy Malaysia in 2010 was best characterized by the efforts of the governing coalition to balance the "old" politics of communalism and patronage with a "new" political landscape focused on greater sociopolitical and economic inclusivity. However, it still remains unclear...

...Bilveer Singh Malaysia in 2009 remained in constant political turmoil. While Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak's stronger leadership and new policies did improve the situation, issues of race, religion, and economic disparity continued to trouble the administration. Although the opposition's threat...

...Meredith L. Weiss Activists from civil society contributed significantly to the strong performance of the opposition in Malaysia's March 2008 elections, strategizing opposition collaboration, standing as candidates, informing debates, and expanding media options. These efforts boosted...

...William Case 2007 appeared to be a year of political and economic continuity in Malaysia. The government won three by-elections. The economy grew at 5.6%. Tensions over ethnic relations and Islamization simmered, though with probably no greater intensity than in past years. And foreign relations...

...Fumitaka Furuoka This article analyzes Malaysia-Japan relations under the Mahathir administration, focusing on two case studies, the “Look East” policy and Japanese direct investment in Malaysia. As the case studies suggest, Mahathir's policies were first and foremost dictated by his nationalism...

...Abdul Rashid Moten; Tunku Mohar Mokhtar The ruling coalition in Malaysia received an overwhelming mandate to rule in the general elections held in 2004. The major opposition party, which ran an aggressive campaign for an Islamic agenda, suffered a crushing defeat. The election results can be seen...