Malaysian election could be a crucial turning point
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The entrenched UMNO/BN coalition might have to face up to the fact that voters are tired of the old ways and want a more inclusive society
It has taken Malaysian Prime Minister Tun Najib Razak over a year to call for a general election. He finally did so the other day. The Malaysian voters can now decide whether they want to continue with the old system or embark upon a new era of inclusive politics. Of course, the fact that Razak took so long to dissolve parliament and announce the election shows that he was waiting for the best time for him and his party, the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), and the Barisan National (BN) coalition. Unfortunately, time might not be on his side.
In the past few years, Najib has presided over many positive developments, some related to the region. Malaysia helped broker a peace agreement between the Manila government and Muslim rebels in Mindanao. That was one of the most-cited success stories until the recent invasion of Sabah by armed supporters of the claimant to the sultanate of Sulu. Razak has been supportive of peace and reconciliation initiatives in Myanmar and the Middle East, eagerly wanting to demonstrate his leadership abilities. He has worked with ousted Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra to start a peace dialogue with Malay-Muslim insurgents in our troubled deep South. He also managed to push the Global Movement of Moderates as an Asean agenda item last November. All these activities are designed to raise Razak’s profile as one of the region’s most dynamic leaders.
But the average Malaysian could not care less about this. They want a better economy, with less corruption. They want their share of the prosperous economy, which is being divided up among cronies. They also want to see all three main ethnic groups being given the same treatment and opportunities. The idea that being a native Malay bumiputra offers better opportunity or status than other Malaysians is outdated and should be discredited. But the UMNO has been using this platform to win Malay votes.
Times are changing. The main opposition party, Pakatan Rakyat, led by Ibrahim Anwar, is challenging the ruling party with a new template that is inclusive. Malaysians of all races working in harmony could win the poll this time. The Malays are coming to understand that, to make a stronger nation, they have to treat other races equally. Eventually, a richer and better Malaysia will be good for everybody. That should be the aim.
Old habits die hard, especially in the kampong political arena. UMNO and the BN still use the same tactics while preaching for a united Malaysia. The Chinese-Malays and Indian-Malays know full well what the BN has done to them. First-time voters, who make up about 22 per cent of the electorate, could be the game-changers. The younger generation wants to see a more dynamic nation that is inclusive, with rewards based on merit, not race. It will be interesting to see the poll’s outcome this time as these younger voters set the future path for Malaysia.
Razak’s future is uncertain, to say the least. It is highly unlikely that the opposition Pakatan Rakyat will win an outright majority. But for the UMNO to lose more seats than in the 2008 election would almost certainly result in the end of Razak’s leadership of the party. Other contenders will be happy to see him slip.
One thing is clear: Malaysian politics is no longer the same. The outcome will show just how much things have changed.
