ARTICLES

4 Aug 2023

Sanusi’s Bully Pulpit Populism: Boon or Bane?

James Chai

In the run-up to the state elections in Kedah, Parti Islam SeMalaysia is touting a Trumpist-type politician. The approach is unconventional but explicable if one considers the party’s ambitions.

3 Aug 2023

Will UMNO’s Mutant Electoral Map Bite Pakatan Harapan?

Lee Hwok-Aun

In the run-up to the Selangor state elections, Pakatan Harapan has to rally UMNO votes to its side. It must also overcome vulnerabilities caused by the latter’s 2018 gerrymandering of the state’s electoral map.

Malaysia Malaysian Elections

31 Jul 2023

Malaysia’s 2023 Elections: A Coming Clash of Coalitions in Selangor

Khairy Jamaluddin

The upcoming state elections in Malaysia represent a referendum on the first eight months of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s ‘Unity Government’. This Long Read assesses possible scenarios for the election outcome in Selangor.

Malaysia Malaysian Elections Malaysian Politics

18 Jul 2023

Malaysia’s 2023 State Elections: Projections and Scenarios

Ong Kian Ming

This Long Read uses the results of the 15th General Election (GE15) held in 2022 to project the possible outcomes in the upcoming state elections, through the use of various scenarios. A key question for the upcoming polls is the extent to which supporters of former political rivals Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Barisan Nasional (BN) will “transfer” their votes to each other in the upcoming state elections.

Malaysia Malaysian Elections

6 Jul 2023

What’s the Matter with MUDA – is it Moody or just Misunderstood?

Francis E. Hutchinson

The Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (MUDA) has parted ways with Pakatan Harapan to contest the upcoming state elections. Although some have written the youth-focused party off, there might yet be method to its madness.

Malaysia Malaysian Elections

5 Jul 2023

Malaysia’s 2023 State Elections: So Much Fuss For So Little Work

Lee Hwok-Aun

Amid the political spectacle, Malaysia should critically consider the meagre roles and resources of state governments. The irony is that states, in following their own election cycles, end up augmenting federal dominance and disempowering themselves.

Malaysia Malaysian Elections Malaysian Politics

26 Jun 2023

Debunking the Myths of Malaysia’s “Green Wave” in GE15

Ong Kian Ming

It is time to refresh the popular but inaccurate characterisation of recent Malaysian politics as broadly influenced by Islamisation. The truth is more complex.

Malaysia Malaysian Elections

22 Jun 2023

Transparent Content Moderation the Key to Responsible Political Discourse

Harris Zainul

As Malaysia heads into six state elections, it is imperative for social media platforms to step up their game in moderating harmful content.

Malaysia Malaysian Elections Malaysian Politics

31 Mar 2023

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.

Malaysia Malaysian Elections Malaysian Politics

27 Mar 2023

UMNO’s Zahid – A Formidable Yet Flawed Political Operator

Francis E. Hutchinson

UMNO President Zahid Hamidi’s tactics to consolidate power have opened himself and his party to potential vulnerabilities as a new generation of Malaysians demand cleaner government.

Malaysia Malaysian Elections Malaysian Politics