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Malaysia’s 15th General Election: Ethnicity Remains the Key Factor in Voter Preferences

Marzuki Mohamad|Ibrahim Suffian

The results of Malaysia’s 15th General Election revealed that ethnicity remains the key factor determining voter behaviour. But in a reversal of previous trends, the coalition that received the most support from the ethnic Malay majority is in the Opposition, while the coalition that received the least Malay support is leading the government. This suggests that the current political configuration is intrinsically fragile.

Forging Anwar’s Cabinet: Fervent Followers, Forbidden Friends, and Former Foes

Francis E. Hutchinson

With his first 100 days behind him, Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has acted proactively to solidify his hold on power. Adept at backroom negotiations, he swiftly cobbled together a Cabinet representing his broad ‘coalition of coalitions’ while ensuring that he and his loyalists controlled the most powerful positions. This Long Read provides an analysis of how the spoils were distributed in Anwar’s new Cabinet.