The 2008 Elections in Malaysia. Uncertainties of Electoral Authoritarianism

Abstract

The March 2008 elections were a watershed event in Malaysia's history. In spite of the entrenched dominance of the ruling coalition, which has held sway over the country since independence in 1957, and despite the limited competitiveness of elections, the opposition was, unexpectedly, able to strip the federal government of its two-thirds majority and to assume government power in five of the thirteen states. Malaysia's political culture and political system could be fundamentally changed in the years to come. The government parties have lost their claim to exclusive representation of the large ethnic groups. Prime Minister Badawi and other party leaders have been considerably weakened. Severe intraparty confrontations are to be expected over the next few months. The success of the opposition signals the willingness of voters to overcome communalist political patterns.