Hope for a ‘new’ Malaysia derailed by old politics — at least for now

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Hope for a ‘new’ Malaysia derailed by old politics — at least for now
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Malaysia has experienced a dramatic political transition with conservative political parties returning to government.

The new Perikatan Nasional (National Alliance) coalition recently used legal means to grab power, making Muhyiddin Yassin the country’s eighth prime minister. The alliance includes the 1MDB scandal-tainted United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) and the Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS).

To understand this change in government, it is essential to recognise how much the old features of Malaysia’s political system persist. The nexus between politics and business, the fragmented party system, and the dominance of a racial–religious paradigm constrains reform of the political system. Old practices have derailed hopes of a “new” Malaysia — at least for now.

Politics in Malaysia has long been a business. Politicians join parties to make money, and once in power, politicians distribute patronage and favours to their business cronies.

Patronage continued under Pakatan Harapan

In the 21 months of the Mahathir-led Pakatan Harapan (PH) government, these practices were not fundamentally changed. Anti-corruption efforts concentrated on top figures from the previous government and enforcement was unevenly applied.

Mahathir-led Pakatan Harapan government, these practices were not fundamentally changed.
Under the Pakatan Harapan government, old practices were not fundamentally changed. Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad Facebook page

The introduction of checks on such corruption and cronyism slowed down decision-making and provoked disgruntlement among the business elite. There was pressure to return to “business as usual” and strong resistance to reform.

With a focus on austerity, PH did not offer a new vision for economic growth or lay out an economic reform plan.

Instead, patronage continued. Many oligarchs reconfigured their alliances, changing their company names and loyalties. New entrants clamoured for a piece of the action, while displaced groups complained. Competition between cronies searching for favours fed destabilisation and conflict between political elites.

Ethnic paradigm

Malaysia’s political parties are largely feudal institutions that revolve around party elites and factions. When trust between personalities breaks down, parties split and coalitions collapse.

Former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad and the president of the People’s Justice Party, Anwar Ibrahim, were unable to resolve their long-standing distrust, as alternative contenders for power played on these differences.

The May 2018 election result divided the parliament into smaller political groupings, breaking the hold of the one-party dominant system. A stable coalition system requires compromise and cooperation, but the old practices of divide and rule predominated.

Pakatan Harapan 15th general election loss is a kaput for a for electoral changes
The 2018 election result divided parliament into smaller political groupings, breaking the hold of the one-party dominant system. Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad Facebook page

Mahathir honed these divisive practices in his first stint as prime minister (1981–2003). But the former governing party UMNO was most apt in using these tactics. Its efforts, along with ambitious members within the Harapan coalition afraid of being sidelined with a potential transition to Anwar, were successful in displacing Mahathir and paving the way for a return to power. Starved of access to resources and with its elites desperate to have their legal charges removed, the stakes for a return were personal.

Cooperation among political parties was further hampered by entrenched ethnic politics. Party identity remains closely tied to race, religion and region. Ethnic labels were used to justify not working with other political parties and narrowed the parameters of party cooperation in the battle to form a majority in parliament.

The continued myopia on race and religion in understanding Malaysian politics is at odds with a society that is comprised of multiple identities and is primarily interested in securing a decent living in an era of increased vulnerabilities.

The dominant ethnic paradigm creates tensions over political legitimacy. Debate persists over who commands the support of the Malay majority or the majority of elected representatives in parliament.

There are also disagreements over whether the decision on who should rule should be made by traditional Malay royal institutions, in parliament or returned to the electorate through new polls.

In recent months in opposition, the UMNO and PAS (with greater Malay representation in parliament) stoked fears of Malay displacement vis-a-vis other ethnic communities and mobilised around “protecting the faith” to gain electoral support.

The PAS rode these sentiments with the hope that returning to power would allow them to implement Islamic governance. But these parties remain divided on whether to work in the new coalition or call new polls, as there are differences over how best to represent the Malay majority and elite interests.

Destabilising forces

The current outcome is a victory for Malay and Muslim conservatives and a continuation of racialised politics and practices that were used to shore up support in the UMNO-dominant era. This contrasts with the more multi-ethnic and inclusive alternative that in its infighting underperformed economically and did not adequately deliver on many of the promises of reform voters expected.

The chronic “old” features of Malaysian politics where power is tied to greed, oligarchic competition, personality and the mobilisation of identity politics underscored the government transition and are continuing to shape its future.

But the political battle is not over, as those calling for reform and a different “Malaysian” future —notably impatient youth, active civil society and an empowered opposition — may win out, as they did in May 2018.

As much as support for democracy is strong, these sentiments compete with calls for greater stability and attention to the economy. Many Malaysians are exhausted by the politicking and the messiness of Malaysia’s democratic governance.

New Prime Minister Muhyiddin is now beholden to the parties that put him into office. They will expect political appointments, economic contracts, legal dismissals of past politicians and a deepening of race and religion-based politics. If they do not get what they want, they may abandon him.

While Muhyiddin lacks a broad public mandate to enact reform, he holds a prime ministerial position with considerable levers of power. With low expectations, he may offer some surprises as he tries to forge his own legacy.

For now, attention is focused on whether the new government can shore itself up in a difficult economic climate, survive a delayed vote in parliament, and not collapse from the same destabilising forces that brought it into office.

 

This article was written by Bridget Welsh, a senior research associate of the Hu Feng Center for East Asia Democratic Studies of the National Taiwan University, a senior associate fellow of The Habibie Center and a University Fellow of Charles Darwin University. It first appeared on East Asia Forum under a Creative Commons License and is reproduced here with its permission.  

 

 

Feature Photo Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad Facebook page 

 

 

Related:

  • Malaysia’s Mahathir unexpectedly quit as prime minister — but he could come back(CNBC)
  • Malaysia’s political turmoil: everything you need to know(The Guardian)
  • Beneath Malaysia’s political battles are older struggles(Financial Times)

 

 

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