Malaysia, a new nation whose very existence depends on holding disparate ethnic groups in balance, is an example of a developing nation whose legislature does influence policy. This pioneering survey and analysis of the Malaysian parliament carefully documents and interprets the interaction of legislator, party, and voter in Malaysia. The study ind
The Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat, despite the name, is seldom heard. In this recollection of his short tenure as the Dewan Rakyat Speaker, Tan Sri Ariff Yusof, reveals his side of the story – dissecting the events and procedures of Parliament while providing an insider’s view of the unprecedented political developments that led to the fall of the Pakatan Harapan government in 2020 and his eventual removal. Meanwhile, a global pandemic starts to rage and was met with faltering response from the government, and a suspension of Parliament. Can we expect change to come from the Parliament, in the current scheme of things? Is there political interest to find new ground to move beyond race and religion? Can a Speaker alone change how things are done, independent of the other branches of government? Parliament, Unexpected brings readers through an autobiographical journey to understand the sources of our political dysfunction, and what needs to be done to reset and retell the Malaysian story for a fairer, kinder and more equitable tanah air for all. (Matahari Books)
This book examines the representation of women in the Malaysian Parliament with a focus on the substantive representation of women in the 10th and 11th Dewan Rakyat, the lower house of the Malaysian Parliament. It aims, in particular, to see whether or not female MPs acted for women by proposing women-related issues in the Dewan Rakyat, the female MPs in the forefront of representing women are called critical actors. An in depth look at who these representative is and what were the issues they proposed has been carried out through content analysis of the parliamentary debates. A series of face-to-face interviews was conducted with these critical actors to examine what made them critical actors; considering the factors motivating them to represent women and address the problems women face. All of these components offer important insight to explore and understand the substantive representation of women in the Malaysian Parliament. Experience and gender awareness were found to be the major factors that contributed to their effective representation of women in the Parliament. Additionally, information and networking appeared to be crucial in facilitating this process. This book is suitable for both academic and public reading. In particular, it can be useful for politicians, policy makers, academics, practitioner’s, activists and student of politics who are interested in understanding about women representation in the Malaysian parliament.
This book aims to give a comprehensive picture of law, government and the constitution in Malaysia, and to set constitutional developments in their proper political and social context. It is written in such a way that lawyers may see how perspectives other than the purely legal can enrich the understanding of constitutional issues in Malaysia and that others may comprehend the lawyer's perspective on these issues. There has been an increasing interest in constitutional issues in Malaysia since the mid-1980s following a number of important events, including the advent of judicial activism and the curtailment of royal powers. There is now a pressing need for a reappraisal of the Malaysian constitution in terms of its political and social dimensions and dynamics, and the extent of its adherence to, or its interpretation of, those principles which are collectively known as `constitutionalism', that is, democratic government, the rule of law, the separation of powers, and the observance of fundamental human rights and liberties. The book examines how the constitution has adjusted to its environment, how it actually operates and how its abstractions differ from reality. The author concludes that the principles of the constitution have been eroded to such a degree that a new constitutional settlement is needed - one which makes it clear what the basic tenets of the Malaysian polity are.
The Malaysian political system incorporates a mix of democratic and authoritarian characteristics. In this comprehensive account, Harold Crouch argues that, while they may appear contradictory, the responsive and the repressive features of the system combine in an integrated and coherent whole. Consistently dominated by the Malay party UMNO, which represents the largest ethnic group, the Malaysian government requires the support of its Chinese, Indian, and East Malaysian minorities to retain control. The need to appeal to a politically and ethnically divided electorate restrains the arbitrary exercise of power by the ruling coalition. As a result, the government responds to popular aspirations, particularly since a split in the dominant Malay party in the 1980s. Yet it also controls the electoral process, ensuring victory in all national elections. Communal, social, and economic factors have all contributed in rather ambiguous ways to shaping the Malaysian political system. Communal tensions, change in the class structure, and the consequences of economic growth have generated pressures in both democratic and authoritarian directions. The government has been remarkably stable despite sharp ethnic divisions and, Crouch suggests, it is unlikely to move swiftly toward full democracy in the near future.
