The Resurgence of Social Activism in Malaysia

Summary

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1. • The social activism that has been on the rise in Malaysia in recent years differs in many aspects from earlier times, making it difficult for the government to accept wholeheartedly, let alone manipulate successfully.

2. • In the first decades of independence, internal tensions were expressed in terms of ethnic differences. With the implementation of the comprehensive New Economic Policy, class discourses were subsumed under racial contradictions. This situation was worsened with the addition of Islamic terminology to strengthen Malay Muslim demands, and exacerbated the non-Malay brain drain out of the country

3. • Between 1990 and 1998, developmentalism and Malay-centrism cum Islamization functioned as intertwined pillars for Malaysian nation-building.

4. • The Reformasi Movement born in 1998 signalled a groundswell of dissent which culminated into demands for fair elections, rule of law and effective and good governance. Most importantly, it attempts rather successfully in clothing its pet issues in non-racial terms.

5. • The Bersih Movement for open and clean elections electrified large segments of the urban population throughout the country, drawing civil society and opposition parties to form an integrated opposition to the government.

6. • The deep movement for reforms in Malaysia is expected to continue since the factors causing changes include powerful external ones such as the regionalisation of the economy, of jobs, of schooling and of capital.

INTRODUCTION

Malaysia's Parliament has to be dissolved by the end of April 2013, following which Malaysians must go to the polls within 60 days. Nothing significant about that, except that this 13th general election is a critical one which will decide how the country's politics will develop in the coming decade.

A two-party system is now in place, thanks to the spectacular results of the 12th general election five years ago which brought opposition parties to power at the state-level. Of the many reasons ventured for this shift, the one that cannot be ignored is the impressive rise in social activism. A strong sense of empowerment has come to the fore, which the ruling coalition continues to have a difficult time managing.