ARTICLES

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.

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

8 Mar 2023

Anwar’s First 100 Days: Passing Grade but Stern Tests Ahead

Khairy Jamaluddin

Anwar Ibrahim has managed to even the keel of Malaysia’s new coalition government in its first 100 days. But his fragile coalition government faces sterner tests on the horizon.

Malaysia Malaysian Elections Malaysian Politics

6 Feb 2023

PAS and the Midterm Polls: Existential Challenge of Becoming a National Party

James Chai

In the coming state elections, Parti Islam SeMalaysia has ambitious plans to take ground in states it does not control. Taking the fight to the enemy, however, may necessitate a deeper examination of its own identity as an Islamist party.

Malaysian Elections Malaysian Politics

29 Nov 2022

Malaysia’s New PM: The Need to Get It Right for the Country

Norshahril Saat

Malaysia’s new premier Anwar Ibrahim has made the right moves in his first week in office. Going forward, however, he has a slew of challenges.

Malaysia Malaysian Elections Malaysian Politics

9 Nov 2022

Identity Politics Might Undermine Malay/Muslim Unity

Norshahril Saat

Three broad coalitions are gunning for the Malay/ Muslim vote in Malaysia’s general election. The question is whether voters still regard the issues of race and religion as important.

Identity Politics Malaysia Malaysian Elections Malaysian Politics

8 Nov 2022

Pakatan Harapan and Malay Heartland Voters: The Need to Stay Grounded

Mohd Faizal Musa

Pakatan Harapan has its work cut out for it in seeking to defend or even take new seats in Malay-majority constituencies. In such seats, the coalition needs to work close to the ground and address quotidian issues, rather than stressing national-level matters.

Malaysia Malaysian Elections Malaysian Politics

7 Nov 2022

GE15: Parti Amanah Negara’s Strong and Volatile Seats

Mohd Faizal Musa

Amanah, the progressive Islamist party, will be contesting in as many as 54 seats in Malaysia’s general elections. The prospect of many multi-cornered fights suggests that the party faces an uphill battle to retain the eleven parliamentary seats it now holds.

Malaysia Malaysian Elections Malaysian Politics