Election Date: March 8, 2008

Abstract: At stake: House of Representatives

At stake: House of Representatives

Background

Malaysia was occupied by Japan in World War II while it was still a British colony. A nationalist movement emerged after the war ended, and Malaysia became the semi-autonomous Federation of Malaya in 1948.

Communist guerrillas led a liberation war against the British Empire. Britain declared a state of emergency to quell the insurgency that lasted until 1960.

On Sept. 16, 1963, the independent state of Malaysia came into existence as a federation of Malaya, Singapore, Sabah (North Borneo), and Sarawak. In 1965, Singapore withdrew from the federation and became a separate nation. Since 1966, the 11 states of former Malaya have been known as West Malaysia, and Sabah and Sarawak as East Malaysia.

The ruling United Malays National Organization (UMNO)—the biggest party in a coalition of 12 political factions known as the National Front (BN)—has formed the government after every election since the country attained its independence from Britain.

In 1981, Mahathir Mohamad became the country’s fourth prime minister. Mahathir would remain in office for 22 years. During his tenure, Malaysia became a leading Asian economy. Mahathir was also well-known for crushing his political opponents, and criticizing what he called the "double-standards" of developed nations.

In 1999, Mahathir’s deputy prime minister and finance minister Anwar Ibrahim was sentenced to jail on charges of sodomy and corruption. Anwar had become a critic of Mahathir’s administration and was tabled as his natural successor, and many saw his conviction as politically-motivated. In 2004, the Federal Court reversed Anwar’s conviction for sodomy and he was released from prison. Ibrahim’s wife, Azizah Ismail, formed the National Justice Party (PKN) in 1999.

On the aftermath of the terrorist attacks against the United States in September 2001, Mahathir offered his support to Washington and vowed to become the voice of moderate Islam.

Mahathir stepped down from his post in October 2003. When he resigned, he said he was "disappointed" with the fact that the country’s ethnic Chinese minority was notoriously wealthier and more successful than its Malay counterpart, saying, "I have achieved too little in my principal task of making my race a successful race, a race that is respected."

The UMNO’s Abdullah Ahmad Badawi took over as prime minister on Oct. 31, 2003, after the retirement of Mahathir. The new head of government tried to distance himself from his predecessor by issuing a crackdown on corruption. Abdullah launched an official investigation into the conduct of the police forces, and prosecuted Eric Chia—the former director of national steel company Perwaja—for criminal breach of trust.

In February 2004, land and cooperative development minister Kasitah Gaddam was arrested on charges of misappropriation.

Abdullah’s standing was affected by a police investigation into the illegal sale of nuclear parts to Libya involving Scomi Precision Engineering, a company headed by his son. Local law enforcement authorities blamed Sri Lankan businessman Buhary Syed Abu Tahir—who allegedly brokered the deal—by claiming that the equipment in question was meant for customers in Dubai.

In March 2004, a legislative election took place in Malaysia. Final results gave the National Front (BN) another overwhelming victory, with 198 of the 219 seats at stake.

Click Here for Malaysia’s 2004 House of Representatives Election Tracker

In 2005, former prime minister Mahathir voiced his criticism against some of Abdullah’s policies. A year later, Mahathir said Abdullah had betrayed his trust after the prime minister decided to cancel Mahathir’s project to build a new bridge between Malaysia and Singapore.

2008 House of Representatives Election

On Feb. 13, 2008, Malaysian prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi called for a legislative ballot, saying, "The king has given his consent to dissolve parliament, effective today (…) to allow the elections to be held; the states have been advised to dissolve the state assemblies on the same date." The election was scheduled for Mar. 8.

On Feb. 14, Tony Pua, economic adviser to the Democratic Action Party (DAP), confirmed that three major opposition parties will field single candidates in most constituencies in order to gain ground over the National Front. Pua also said their campaign will be focused on noting Malaysia’s growing crime rate, rising consumer prices, and corruption, adding, "We’ll be harping on these issues every single day. (...) It shows a clear failure of the government."

On Feb. 21, Anwar Ibrahim said the government set the date of a snap election just weeks before he is allowed to stand for office again—due to his previous conviction—and called the decision "shameful". The leading opposition figure declared: "It is unprecedented that you would call elections after three years with a more than two-thirds majority. (…) The only reason you can give is to deny me an opportunity to participate in the elections."

Also on Feb. 21, the opposition Islamic Party of Malaysia (PAS) accused the country’s media of depicting them as a radical group that would become a threat to Malaysia’s non-Muslims, who account for 40 per cent of the country’s total population. The party’s chief strategist, Dzulkifli Ahmad, declared: "We have been slaughtered, we have been demonised in the media because we talked about (an) Islamic state."

On that same day, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang said that his party will campaign on a platform calling for lower cost of living and ensuring racial equality under the slogan: "A nation of care and opportunity." Abdul also said his party will not continue to promote the idea of forming a theocratic state, adding, "We offer equal justice to all, justice in economy opportunities and freedom of religion. We promise a government that is trustworthy, just and clean which will be able to give the people a better life."

In the 2004 ballot, the PAS had called for the creation of an Islamic state with strict Islamic laws, including severe punishments such as amputating the limbs of thieves and stoning adulterers to death.

On Mar. 5, Human Rights Watch defined the electoral process in Malaysia as “grossly unfair.” The group accused the Malaysian government of allowing the ruling coalition to campaign at will, while placing restrictions on opposition rallies and meetings.

On Mar. 6, Ibrahim vowed to end racial discrimination if his party emerges victorious, saying, “I do not want to form a government that is made up of only one race. (...) We want strong Malays, strong Chinese, strong Indians. Take the best Malays, let them work with the best Chinese and the best Indians.”

Voting took place on Mar. 8. In all, 7,950 polling stations were installed for the 10.9 million registered voters. Final results gave the National Front (BN) a victory with 140 seats. However, the coalition’s share of the vote dropped drastically, from 64.4 per cent in the 2004 ballot, to 50.27 per cent in 2008.

Abdullah discussed the results, saying, “We must learn from this. I have always believed there are lessons to learn. Even in the worst of tragedies, there are lessons to be learned. I’m not a stubborn person who will not learn from lessons in life, even when these are associated with my career and my work. We are all collectively responsible for all that we have been doing because the government has been making decisions on the basis of consensus.” 

Political Players

King: Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin
Prime minister: Abdullah Ahmad Badawi - UMNO

The King is elected to a five-year term by the Council of Rulers.

Legislative Branch: The Parlimen (Parliament) has two chambers. The Dewan Rakyat (House of Representatives) has 219 members, elected to five-year terms in single-seat constituencies. The Dewan Negara (Senate) has 69 members; two representatives for each of the country's 13 states are elected to six-year terms, and 43 members are appointed.

Results of Last Election:

House of Representatives - Mar. 8, 2008

	Vote%	Seats
National Front (BN)	50.27%	140
United Malays National Organization (UMNO)		78
Malaysian Chinese Organization (MCA)		15
United Traditional Bumiputera Party (PBB)		14
Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP)		6
Sarawak People’s Party (PRS)		6
Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP)		4
United Pasok Momogun Kadazandusun Organization (UPKO)		4
Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP)		3
Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC)		3
United Sabah Party (PBS)		3
Malaysian People’s Movement Party (Gerakan)		2
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)		1
United Sabah People’s Party (PBRS)		1
People’s Progressive Party (PPP)		--
People’s Justice Party (PKR)	18.58%	31
Islamic Party of Malaysia (PAS)	14.05%	23
Democratic Action Party (DAP)	13.77%	28
Independents	0.81%	--

 

 

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