2008 Malaysian Election: The End of Malaysia's Ethnic Nationalism?

Abstract

The article proposes that there are three basic paradigms of nationalism: secular nationalism, ethnic nationalism, and theocratic nationalism. These paradigms form an integral part of the postcolonial state‐building project. The article discusses how Malaysia selected the ethnic nationalism paradigm and how this directed the country's political development and the way it addressed the challenge of ethnic pluralism. It argues that ethnic nationalism best accounts for Malaysia's inability to achieve full democracy. The March 2008 election and the possibility of the collapse of ethnic nationalism and the transition to a more open democracy are explored.

Authoritarian Durability: Public Opinion towards Democracy in Southeast Asia

“…The structure of the electoral system has traditionally given a more favourable outcome for the BN at general elections. For example, rural Malay strongholds have far lower numbers of voters per elected office holder compared to urban districts (see Arakaki, 2009;Freedman, 2006). But even with an electoral system in their favour, in the 2008 parliamentary general election, the BN secured only 140 out of 222 seats which were considered by many as a "disastrous" result for the BN coalition who are accustomed to securing a two-thirds majority in the Malaysian parliament.…”

The 2013 Malaysian Elections: Ethnic Politics or Urban Wave?

“…The recent election results have also triggered debate of whether we have indeed seen the end of ethnic politics in Malaysia. It is without doubt that parties canvassing on a pure ethnic political platform have been severely weakened, but to say that ethnic politics have been totally extinguished in Malaysia would be premature (Arakaki 2009;Balasubramaniam 2006;Lian and Appudurai 2011;Moten 2009;Noh 2014;Pepinsky 2009). …”

Going Against the Tide: Sabah and the 2008 Malaysian General Election

“…The 2008 general election once again shows how the survival of political parties in Malaysia depends upon the support of the particular ethnic groups; except that in some cases, ethnic voting is no longer as decisive as was formerly the case. Arakaki (2009, p. 79) observed that the results of the 2008 election indicated the possibility of Malaysia becoming “a more open democracy” and signalled the end of “ethnic nationalism.” Similarly, Maznah (2008) suggested that the opposition coalition's decision to use a multiethnic approach in mobilizing its electoral support proved to be effective as compared to BN's decades‐long ethnic consociationalist approach. Like Loh, both Arakaki and Maznah believed that Malaysia will gradually move toward a “nonracial state” where political competition will no longer be determined by ethnic sentiment.…”

“…The results were a real surprise to BN. It lost its all‐important two‐thirds majority (Arakaki, 2009). BN managed to win only 140 seats, with the other 82 going to the opposition.…”