International Journal of Social Science Research eISSN: 2710-6276 | Vol. 3, No. 1, 34-44, 2021 http://myjms.mohe.gov.my/index.php/ijssr International Journal of Social Science Research (IJSSR) eISSN: 2710-6276 | Vol. 3 No. 1 [March 2021] Journal website: http://myjms.mohe.gov.my/index.php/ijssr NEW POLITICAL NORM IN MALAYSIA POST 14TH GENERAL ELECTION: AN ANALYSIS OF HOW THE LOSING PARTIES FORM A GOVERNMENT AND THE WINNING PARTIES BECOME THE OPPOSITION Mohammad Tawfik Yaakub1* 1 Department of Administrative Studies and Politics, Faculty of Economics and Administration, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA *Corresponding author: [email protected] Abstract: The 14th General Election witnessed Barisan Article Information: Nasional coalition (BN) that ruled the country for 61 years Article history: failed to retain its position as the Federal government for the first time since Independence. Besides, several states Received date : 30 January 2021 that were previously synonymous as BN strongholds such Revised date : 23 February 2021 as Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Johor also experienced Accepted date : 28 February 2021 Published date : 1 March 2021 change in government from BN to Pakatan Harapan (PH). Following the collapse of BN in GE14, the election was To cite this document: dubbed the mother of all elections conducted in this country ever since the wave of the rise of people on 2008. Through Yaakub, M. (2021). NEW POLITICAL NORM IN MALAYSIA POST 14TH GE14, Pakatan Harapan (which used PKR logo for GE14) GENERAL ELECTION: AN ANALYSIS won 122 parliamentary seats, enabling the coalition to OF HOW THE LOSING PARTIES comfortably lead Federal government in Putrajaya. While FORM A GOVERNMENT AND THE BN only gained 79 parliamentary seats and became the WINNING PARTIES BECOME THE opposition for the first time in the political history of this OPPOSITION. International Journal Of Social Science Research, 3(1), 34-44. country. However, PH which won GE14 and led the government for 22 months collapsed when one of its components which is Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (BERSATU) and some of PKR parliamentary members left the coalition. After leaving PH, this group formed new alliances with the opposition, BN and Parti Islam Malaysia (PAS) to form Federal government through Perikatan Nasional coalition. The strategy of political cooperation is the platform for the opposition which lost GE14 to become the government after the winning party failed to defend its position as the Federal government. The dynamicity of Malaysian politics through cross-party cooperation 34 Copyright © 2021 ACADEMIA INDUSTRY NETWORKS. All rights reserved International Journal of Social Science Research eISSN: 2710-6276 | Vol. 3, No. 1, 34-44, 2021 http://myjms.mohe.gov.my/index.php/ijssr between parliamentary members showed how the political practice has shifted from party-based struggle to common interest. Keywords: political cooperation, Pakatan Harapan and Perikatan Nasional. 1. Introduction The dynamicity of Malaysian politics including political cooperation between the opposition party and the government, monarchy in nine Malay states and transition of government power from the winning party in the election to the opposition party is a unique attribute difficult to find in any other countries around the world. Malaysia recorded another historic political event since Independence when the party that won 14th General Election (GE14), PKR (PH coalition thereafter) only managed to maintain power for 22 months as the Federal Government and the government is then led by the opposition coalition by the name of Perikatan Nasional (PN). The formation of a new Federal government led by PN began when BERSATU and a few parliamentary members of PKR left PH resulting in the loss of majority for the coalition in Dewan Rakyat. Thereafter, they formed a political cooperation with BN, PAS and Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) to form a Malay-Muslim based Federal government. The collapse of PH government was a result of several internal and external elements that were poorly managed by the leadership of the coalition opening the path to a transition of political power. This article discusses the main factors behind the collapse of PH government and the success of the opposition parties that lost GE14 in identifying the opportunity and gap to establish a new government. The next part discusses the approach taken to evaluate the strategy and platform that build the cooperation and political dynamicity post GE14. 35 Copyright © 2021 ACADEMIA INDUSTRY NETWORKS. All rights reserved International Journal of Social Science Research eISSN: 2710-6276 | Vol. 3, No. 1, 34-44, 2021 http://myjms.mohe.gov.my/index.php/ijssr 2. Theory of Political Cooperation According to Deutsch (1949), the fundamental idea for the formation of the cooperation theory that exists through inter-relationship between each other was to achieve the same goals and traits. The same goes for the related actors when faced with certain situations (Deutsch 1949: 130-134). For Deutsch (1949), there are seven key traits needed to form a good alliance which are effective communication between actors, openness and good friendship, smooth process of discussion, existing jobs segregation, the ability to accept opinion of others and to have trust among team members, recognizing and respecting each other, strengthening the position through achievements of other actors and sharing and able to solve the problem collectively. The following Model 1 is the political alliances model that has been modified from the alliance theory and Deustch (1949) provided some clear insight regarding political alliances within Malaysian’s political community. Model 1: Theoretical Framework for Political Cooperation Leadership Cooperation Theory 1. Effective communication 2. Friendship values, openness and not impeding the discussion process Political Political 3. Task coordination Conflict 4. Same belief and opinion Cooperation 5. Respect and recognize other people 6. Strengthen the power by other actors achievements 7. Differences as consensus problem Based on the Deutsch (1949) discussion, effective communication refers to a successfully translated idea through discussion until attention is created and it influences the members of the organisation. Consequently, an actor that intends to cooperate needs to have friendship value, open-mindedness, ability to assist and not impeding the discussion process. This shows that the members are satisfied with the cooperation progress that promotes contribution and solutions which involve all members of the organisation. 36 Copyright © 2021 ACADEMIA INDUSTRY NETWORKS. All rights reserved International Journal of Social Science Research eISSN: 2710-6276 | Vol. 3, No. 1, 34-44, 2021 http://myjms.mohe.gov.my/index.php/ijssr Additionally, job coordination and good responsibility are needed for the establishment to ensure segregation of tasks, endeavours that were organized earlier and shared sources among the actors involved in the political alliances formed. With the existing synergy process, the leaders need be open to opinions and have a belief towards the idea that is put forward by other parties and is eventually able to influence other parties to agree with him. Within the context of teamwork, the actors need to recognise and give chances on the demands posed by the political partners. According to this scholar, actors that plan to establish power can do the same thing if his counterpart assists to achieve that goal. The last feature that was presented through this approach is the synergy within the political context. It can be manifested if each actor cooperates to evaluate every conflict and differences that arise as a collective problem. Throughout the traits postulated by the scholar, strong political affiliation can be crafted if the leaders take the lead and execute it. Nevertheless, the affiliation has to be dynamic and can return as a unit of analysis in this study. 3. History Of UMNO-BN Political Cooperation with PAS to Form Federal Government 1973 The feats to establish a coalition government in 1973 is an outcome of political collaboration of the Muslim-Malay that was successfully pioneered by UMNO and PAS leaders the post-independence. Instability of the country at that time caused the government to advice the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong to declare an emergency. Following the execution of that order, a new organization named Majlis Gerakan Negara (MAGERAN) led by Tun Abdul Razak was established to replace the function of the previous government. The appointment of Tun Abdul Razak to lead MAGERAN was an opportunity for him to pioneer political alliances between UMNO and PAS, which is also a formula to face challenges and created national political unity (Mohd Syakir 2016: 20-22). To face racial political challenge that worsened after 13thMay 1969, Tun Abdul Razak took action to pioneer the new Malay political formula and proposed that political party should not only focus on politics but they should make an effort together to develop the country (Jamaei 2003: 25-28). For that reason, he acted against Malaysia’s political tradition by inviting Dato Mohd Asri Muda as Yang Di- Pertua PAS to meet him in Kuala Lumpur on 16th of May 1969. This meeting was to discuss pertinent issues related to the tragedy and future planning that can be executed. This showed wisdom and the capabilities as a leader when faced with a political scandal that hit the Muslim-Malay community at that time. The two-sided collaboration