PP3739/12/2003 ISSN 0127 - 5127 / RM3.00 / 2003:Vol.23No.6 Aliran Monthly : Vol.23(6) Page 1 COVER STORY New Politics In Malaysia by Francis Loh wish to argue that there III exists a New Politics in Malaysia. A careful analysis of the 1999 elec- tion results provides evidence of this New Politics. However, it is possible that the results of the up- coming election might not carry evidence of this New Politics. To comprehend this apparent contra- diction in my argument, I distin- guish between two realms of poli- tics: formal electoral politics in- volving the political parties and non-formal participatory politics often involving NGOs and other community groups who do not necessarily focus on winning elec- tions. Even if the Barisan Nasional (BN) wins the forthcom- ing election, the New Politics will prevail. The BN’s hegemony over Malaysian society will not be as comprehensive as it used to be, again. The Meaning Of New Politics Ethnicity remains a very salient aspect of Malaysian politics. However, whereas ethnicity pre- viously dominated the discourse and practice of Malaysian politics and posed limits on democracy, it no longer does so to the same pre- dictable extent. Recent develop- ments, especially those that oc- curred since 1998, suggest that a new discourse and politics of par- Aliran Monthly : Vol.23(6) Page 2 EDITOR'S NOTE This month’s cover story is about the forth- coming 11th General Election. The various CONTENTS articles on this theme were first presented in a Roundable which was held in the School of COVER STORY Social Sciences, USM, Penang on 27 June 2003. ••• New Politics In Malaysia 222 It was held in conjunction with the launch of ••• New Rules And Constituencies 777 the book New Politics in Malaysia edited ••• Winning Hearts And Minds 999 by Francis Loh and Johan Saravamuttu. Most ••• Reforming PAS? 111111 of the people who spoke at the Roundtable ••• NGO Candidates For The Election? 141414 had also contributed to New Politics. These ••• The Contest In Penang 151515 articles based on 10-minute presentations have been revised for publication in this month’s AM. FEATURES In the back cover story Anil Netto recounts ••• KL City Hall's Censorship 181818 vividly the talks by Hishamuddin Rais, Saari ••• Not That We Cintai IT ! LessLess! 191919 Sanguib and Tian Chua held in Rumah Aliran ••• Laughing Out Of Control 222222 soon after their release from ISA detention. ••• “Rakyat” Activism 242424 “Do not fear this Law” but be forewarned ••• Is Capital Punishment Justified? 323232 of their mind games they tell us. And they ••• “Liberate Your Mind” 404040 reminded us to continue to campaign for the repeal of the ISA. Many “faceless” detain- REGULARS ees were still being held. ••• Current Concerns 303030 ••• LettersLettersLetters 373737 Prema Devaraj raises the question whether capital punishment is justified arguing that OTHERSOTHERSOTHERS mistakes had been made and innocent peo- ••• Subscription Form 171717 ple will be killed. ••• Ode To The Penang Ring Road 343434 The “Thinking Allowed” section takes the form of a special Aliran dedication to the In- stant Cafe Theatre, to its talented actors and courageous defenders of the freedom of ex- pression. Published by Aliran Kesedaran Negara (ALIRAN) 103, Medan Penaga, 11600 Jelutong, ALIRANALIRANALIRAN is a Reform Movement dedicated to Penang, Malaysia. Justice, Freedom & Solidarity and listed on the Tel : (04) 658 5251 Fax : (04) 658 5197 roster of the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. Founded in 1977, Aliran welcomes Homepage : http://www.aliran.com all Malaysians above 21 to be members. Contact the Hon. Secretary or visit our webpage. Printed by Percetakan Tujuh Lapan Enam Sdn. Bhd. No. 16, Lengkangan Brunei, 55100 Pudu, Kuala Lumpur. Aliran Monthly : Vol.23(6) Page 3 ticipatory politics has gained racy and developmentalism, as • 61 semi-urban “multi-ethnic ground among Malaysians, par- well as combinations of them (for seats” (comprising 22 seats ticularly urban Malays. I refer to instance ethnicism and democ- where no ethnic group consti- the emergence of the reformasi racy) as evidenced in the ethno- tutes a majority and 39 small movement which contributed to- regionalist movements in Sabah Malay-majority seats wherein wards the formation of an oppo- and Sarawak, and the Islamist Malays ranged from 50 to 66 sition coalition that made the 1999 discourses and practices as well. per cent of total voters). election uncharacteristically The distinctions between the dif- meaningful by offering a real ferent discourses are used in this Careful studies by the contribu- choice to the voters. There were discussion as heuristic (or ana- tors to New Politics in Malaysia re- also new non-party voices – indi- lytical) devices. For in the real situ- veal that the Malay voters in the viduals, NGOs and other organi- ation they overlap with one an- 59 large Malay-majority split their zations - demanding justice, ac- other and are not mutually exclu- votes between the BN/UMNO (49 countability, popular participa- sive. New politics refers to this per cent) and the BA/PAS (51 per tion and an autonomous public fragmentation and contestation in cent). The studies also reveal that sphere. Malaysia’s political culture. the Chinese in the 24 Chinese majority seats similarly split their But in spite of the ferment, the BN’s Narrow votes between the BN (51 per cent) democratic impulse did not pre- Win In 1999 and the BA (45 per cent). Appar- vail. Some observers have resorted ently, there occurred a high per- to ethnic factors to explain this lag The narrow victory by the BN in centage of spoilt votes here. between Malaysia and certain the 1999 election provides evi- Southeast and East Asian coun- dence of this fragmentation and (Alas, the Indians do not consti- tries where regime changes have contestation. As is known, the BN tute a majority in any of the con- occurred. My argument is that it won 102 out of the 144 parliamen- stituencies and analysis of the is no longer ethnic factors but tary seats in the Peninsula, and pattern of voting among Indians developmentalism, the cultural 148 out of the 193 parliamentary can only be conducted at the level by-product of an economic seats throughout the country. In of the voting district or saluran. dirigisme, successfully under- the contest for seats in the eleven Based on a limited number of stud- taken by a developmental state state assemblies in the Peninsula, ies, it appears that a majority of since the 1970s, which is princi- the BN won 281 of 394 seats con- Indians tended to vote for the BN pally responsible for limiting de- tested. Although the BN won 76.7 rather than for the BA which is not mocratization in present day Ma- per cent of the parliamentary surprising for a weak minority laysia. Put another way, this new seats, it polled only 56.5 percent group. However, this finding political culture places value on of the popular vote (compared to should be considered tentative). sustained economic growth as 65 percent in 1995). well as the political stability The BN’s victory was gained es- which allows this growth to oc- Leaving aside Sabah and sentially because it performed cur. Sarawak, it is useful for analyti- spectacularly in the semi-urban cal purposes to divide the 144 con- multi-ethnic constituencies where However, the fact that democratic stituencies in the Peninsula into: it captured 60 of 61 seats. Of ferment is occurring while ethnic course, the BN also won all 28 factors still appeal among certain • 59 generally rural large Malay- seats in Sarawak and 17 of 21 groups suggests that Malaysia’s majority seats (with more than seats in Sabah (including Labuan) political culture has become frag- 67 per cent Malay voters), in sealing its overall victory. mented. In other words, there are • 24 generally urban Chinese- contestations between the dis- majority seats (with more than Marginal Seats courses and practices of 50 per cent Chinese voters), ethnicism, participatory democ- and Less well known is that 26 parlia- Aliran Monthly : Vol.23(6) Page 4 mentary seats in the Peninsula The Two Realms the ISA and other coercive laws, were won by less than five per cent Of Politics etc. i.e. the issues championed by majorities, and another 24 seats the NGOs. which were won by 5 to 10 per There are, of course, the formal and cent margins. (Of this total of 50 the non-formal realms of politics. This counter-discourse, which the marginal seats, 29 were won by The formal realm is the one in- NGOs had initiated and kept alive the BN, 21 by the BA). This means volving the executive and the bu- throught the 1990s as that more than one-third (50 out reaucracy, the judiciary as well as developmentalism held sway and of 144) of the seats in the Penin- the legislative assemblies and par- consolidated its grip over the sula were won by slim margins. liament. The political parties and Malaysian public, was subse- And if an additional 5 to 6 per the electoral process are also part quently adopted not only by the cent swing in favour of the BA had of this formal sector. This realm is leaders of the reformasi movement, occurred, and if the BA had cap- overwhelmingly dominated by the but by the new keADILan party, tured all the 29 marginal seats BN coalition. The non-formal sec- as well as by the new opposition won by the BN – two big “if’s” - tor is that realm of politics coalition, BA. In addition, some of the election in the Peninsula wherein ordinary people, some- the leaders of the NGOs also might have ended in a dead heat ! times organized as NGOs or other joined one or another of the BA informal groupings, express them- parties and even contested in the At any rate, it was the first-past- selves peacefully.