ARTICLES

23 Sep 2020

Anwar’s Parliamentary Majority – Show and Tell, or Tell Only?

Francis E. Hutchinson

Anwar Ibrahim told reporters today that his Pakatan Harapan coalition has the numbers to command a majority in Parliament. If history is any guide, the political manoeuvre could well be a stab in the dark.

Malaysia Malaysian Politics

23 Sep 2020

Measuring up MUDA: Getting the Love, Actually?

Mohd Faizal Musa|Siti Syazwani Zainal Abidin

Led by the youthful Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, the newly-established Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (MUDA) might well be able to break the political deadlock that has long dominated Malaysian politics.

Malaysia Malaysian Politics

16 Sep 2020

PAS and the “Younger Brother” Conundrum

Norshahril Saat

Six months after Perikatan Nasional grabbed the reins of power, Parti Islam Se-Malaysia has settled into its position as a party in the ruling coalition. The question is whether the rank and file can stomach the party’s second fiddle status.

Malaysia Malaysian Politics

11 Sep 2020

Muhyiddin Yassin: Sitting Pretty (For Now)

Francis E. Hutchinson

Roiled by political instability in the past few months, Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin can afford to take a breather, for now at least. A survey by arguably the country’s foremost pollster shows him in a strong position.

Malaysia Malaysian Politics

5 Aug 2020

Political Turmoil in Sabah: Attack of the Kataks

Arnold Puyok

True to form, Sabah’s storied “katak” (frog) politicians have hopped parties again, leading to the dissolution of the state assembly and triggering fresh elections. Voters have much to mull over in coming days.

Malaysia Malaysian Politics

4 Aug 2020

The Collapse of the State Government in Sabah: Back to the Drawing Board

Kevin Zhang|Lee Poh Onn

The Warisan-led state assembly in Sabah has been dissolved. If the Perikatan Nasional coalition manages to claw its way back to power in Kota Kinabalu, the state storied for being the “land below the wind” might give a second wind to the embattled ruling coalition at the federal level.

Malaysia Malaysian Politics

3 Aug 2020

Najib’s Guilty Verdict: A Whole New Political Chessboard

Mohd Faizal Musa|Norshahril Saat

The historic guilty verdict given to former premier Najib Razak has led to much political bargaining among the country’s Malay parties. Such unabashed political gaming may lead to disillusionment with the country’s Machiavellian political culture.

Malaysia Malaysian Politics

30 Jul 2020

Sweet Vindication or Hollow Justice? More Twists in the Tale To Come

Serina Rahman

The recent conviction of former premier Najib Razak in court has been celebrated by many Malaysians. But the course of the ensuing political drama could go along many different tracks.

Malaysia Malaysian Politics

28 Jul 2020

Former Premier Najib Razak Found Guilty: Sailing Into Uncharted Waters

Francis E. Hutchinson

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak made history today when he became the country’s highest-ranking official ever to be convicted in court. The judicial decision will help restore confidence in the country’s institutions, many of which have been eroded over the past four decades. The political ramifications are manifold, and could even involve a re-pairing of current premier Muhyiddin Yassin and opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim.

Malaysia Malaysian Politics

9 Jul 2020

The Chini By-Election: A Step Forward for Muafakat Nasional, But Mind the Gap

Francis E. Hutchinson|Kevin Zhang

UMNO’s thumping victory in the recent Chini by-election was not unexpected. The solid Malay support displayed during the poll, however, presages a deeper fissure within the Perikatan Nasional coalition.

Malaysia Malaysian Politics