ARTICLES

12 Oct 2021

Malacca’s Political Crisis: A Microcosm of Fragmented Malay Political Alignments

Norshahril Saat

The collapse of the UMNO-led state government in Malacca throws up many questions about the ensuing feud between UMNO and Bersatu.

31 Aug 2021

Malaysia’s New Cabinet: Same-Same, Minus the Buzz

Francis E. Hutchinson

The new Malaysian cabinet looks very similar to that of its Perikatan Nasional predecessor. By seeking to ensure continuity, new prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob has sacrificed the new administration’s honeymoon period. It needs to generate some inspiring ideas.

Bersatu Malaysia Malaysian Politics UMNO

30 Aug 2021

Resetting the Security Sector in Malaysia

Liew Chin Tong

Given the pressing domestic and external challenges that Malaysia is facing, it is high time for a refreshed National Security Council that will be able to coordinate policy at the highest level.

Malaysia Malaysian Politics Security UMNO

20 Aug 2021

Ismail Sabri as the New PM: An Uneasy Truce

Norshahril Saat

The appointment of Ismail Sabri Yaakob as Malaysia’s ninth prime minister is welcome. At best, however, his ascent represents an agglomeration of compromises between the players concerned. As the country experiences another Covid-19 surge, he will have his work cut out for him.

Bersatu Malaysia Malaysian Politics UMNO

13 Aug 2021

The Descent of UMNO

Khoo Boo Teik

Malaysia’s Umno has continued on its downward slide. In the culmination, this might well prove to be the revenge of Reformasi that begun as a popular revolt against the party more than two decades ago.

Bersatu Malaysia Malaysian Politics UMNO

5 Aug 2021

UMNO Withdraws from Perikatan: September Blues for Muhyiddin?

Norshahril Saat

Malaysia Prime Minister Muhyiddin pulled off a historic coup in February last year, when he ditched the then-ruling Pakatan Harapan coalition to form a new government. Eighteen months on, he might soon be getting a taste of his own medicine.

Malaysia Malaysian Politics UMNO

19 Jul 2021

Revisit Two-Coalition System in Malaysia

Khoo Boo Teik

The recent jolts to Malaysia’s political landscape show that there is a strong basis for a return to a pluralistic and accountable two-coalition system.

Bersatu Malaysia Malaysian Politics UMNO

Mahathir Mohamad (R), Anwar Ibrahim (C) and Muhyiddin Yassin

16 Jul 2021

Are We Witnessing the Bankruptcy Proceedings of the Malay Agenda?

Ooi Kee Beng

After a series of power grabs, there are few ideological differences among the country’s political parties and groupings in power. If UMNO as a phenomenon has run out of gas, its raison d’etre — Malay supremacy — needs some reconsideration.

Malaysia Malaysian Politics UMNO

9 Jul 2021

Malaysia’s Latest Political Fisticuffs – Muhyiddin or Zahid on the Ropes?

Francis E. Hutchinson

In the past week, the Malaysian prime minister had to absorb a couple of political blows. But his coalition is not in any immediate danger — yet.

Malaysia Malaysian Politics UMNO

12 May 2021

The UMNO General Assembly and the Rocky Road Back to Putrajaya

Norshahril Saat

In the May 2018 general election, UMNO lost power for the first time in history but clawed back into government in March 2020 through defections from the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government. However, the party is now deeply split. A close examination of the positions of various UMNO leaders demonstrates that not all is well within the party, and its path to recapture Putrajaya is rocky.

Bersatu Malaysia Malaysian Politics UMNO