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Facing Tests, Malaysia’s Leader Calls for Elections Facing Tests, Malaysia’s Leader Calls for Elections
(about 3 hours later)
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — More than five decades ago this multiethnic country started an experiment in democracy that segregated political parties according to ethnicity. Justified in the name of ethnic harmony and stability, the system remained in place as Malaysia became increasingly prosperous.KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — More than five decades ago this multiethnic country started an experiment in democracy that segregated political parties according to ethnicity. Justified in the name of ethnic harmony and stability, the system remained in place as Malaysia became increasingly prosperous.
But at a time when an African-American is president of the United States and intermarriage and greater mobility are blurring the meaning of ethnicity across the globe, Malaysia’s ethnic-based politics is increasingly being seen, especially among young people here, as anachronistic.But at a time when an African-American is president of the United States and intermarriage and greater mobility are blurring the meaning of ethnicity across the globe, Malaysia’s ethnic-based politics is increasingly being seen, especially among young people here, as anachronistic.
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Najib Razak announced he was dissolving Parliament, setting in motion an election campaign that is critical for the survival of his embattled coalition — and for the notion of the country’s ethnic-based politics over all.On Wednesday, Prime Minister Najib Razak announced he was dissolving Parliament, setting in motion an election campaign that is critical for the survival of his embattled coalition — and for the notion of the country’s ethnic-based politics over all.
“This is a referendum on race-based politics,” said Ibrahim Suffian, the director of the Merdeka Center, an independent polling agency. “The ruling coalition continues to argue that the existing system brings stability. The opposition is talking more about politics based on class, not race.”“This is a referendum on race-based politics,” said Ibrahim Suffian, the director of the Merdeka Center, an independent polling agency. “The ruling coalition continues to argue that the existing system brings stability. The opposition is talking more about politics based on class, not race.”
The National Front coalition has ruled without interruption since Malaysia became independent from Britain in 1957. But in recent years ethnic cohesion in politics has begun to fray.The National Front coalition has ruled without interruption since Malaysia became independent from Britain in 1957. But in recent years ethnic cohesion in politics has begun to fray.
Chinese voters, who make up about a quarter of the country’s population of nearly 30 million, have abandoned the coalition in large numbers. Chinese voters, who make up about a quarter of the population of nearly 30 million, have abandoned the coalition in large numbers.
The country’s main ethnic group, the Malays, who have dominated the political hierarchy for five decades, are divided.The country’s main ethnic group, the Malays, who have dominated the political hierarchy for five decades, are divided.
“How can you have a country based on race — it’s like South Africa 30 years ago,” said Nariza Hashim, a mother of five children in Kuala Lumpur who is classified as Malay, but has a heritage that includes Chinese, Indian and Scottish ancestors. “How can you have a country based on race? It’s like South Africa 30 years ago,” said Nariza Hashim, a mother of five children in Kuala Lumpur who is classified as Malay, but has a heritage that includes Chinese, Indian and Scottish ancestors.
Despite an establishment pedigree — her grandfather was an early leader of the United Malays National Organization, the Malay component of the coalition — Ms. Nariza says the country’s ethnic classifications baffles her children. Despite an establishment pedigree — her grandfather was an early leader of the United Malays National Organization, the Malay component of the coalition — Ms. Nariza says the country’s ethnic classifications baffle her children.
“They really don’t understand why you would ask someone’s race on a government form,” she said.“They really don’t understand why you would ask someone’s race on a government form,” she said.
Over the years the ethnic system was reinforced by a paternalistic media with close ties to the ruling coalition. The front page on Wednesday of the New Straits Times, a leading English daily, had an article about the elections with a picture of Mr. Najib waving his index finger next to the headline, “Choose wisely.” Over the years the ethnic system was reinforced by a paternalistic media with close ties to the governing coalition. The front page on Wednesday of The New Straits Times, a leading English daily, had an article about the elections with a picture of Mr. Najib waving his index finger next to the headline “Choose wisely.”
Young Malaysians are increasingly cynical about these messages. Widespread Internet penetration has given them a wider variety of news sources and a platform for opposition parties to communicate their messages. Two-thirds of Malaysians now have access to the Internet, up from about 55 percent at the time of the 2008 elections.Young Malaysians are increasingly cynical about these messages. Widespread Internet penetration has given them a wider variety of news sources and a platform for opposition parties to communicate their messages. Two-thirds of Malaysians now have access to the Internet, up from about 55 percent at the time of the 2008 elections.
“A lot of what I know about what’s happening in the country comes from what my friends share on Facebook,” said Pei Ting Tham, a 27-year-old outdoors instructor.“A lot of what I know about what’s happening in the country comes from what my friends share on Facebook,” said Pei Ting Tham, a 27-year-old outdoors instructor.
Compared with the previous election, “people are much more aware of what’s going on,” she said.Compared with the previous election, “people are much more aware of what’s going on,” she said.
Another key change in Malaysia has been the rollback of some of the mildly authoritarian policies that discouraged people in the country from speaking out. Over the last two years, Mr. Najib has announced the repeal of laws that allow for detention without trial and barred university students from politics.Another key change in Malaysia has been the rollback of some of the mildly authoritarian policies that discouraged people in the country from speaking out. Over the last two years, Mr. Najib has announced the repeal of laws that allow for detention without trial and barred university students from politics.
The opposition, led by Anwar Ibrahim, a former deputy prime minister, made major gains in the 2008 elections, winning control of several states and stripping the ruling coalition of the two-thirds supermajority majority in Parliament that allowed it to amend the Constitution. The opposition, led by Anwar Ibrahim, a former deputy prime minister, made major gains in the 2008 elections, winning control of several states and stripping the governing coalition of the two-thirds supermajority majority in Parliament that allowed it to amend the Constitution.
“This is an election where the opposition has a chance of winning — which they never had in the past,” said Mr. Ibrahim of the Merdeka Center, the polling agency.“This is an election where the opposition has a chance of winning — which they never had in the past,” said Mr. Ibrahim of the Merdeka Center, the polling agency.
The ruling coalition may still prevail, partly because of the way the electoral system is structured. The National Front won only 51 percent of the popular vote in the last election, but that translated to 63 percent of the seats in Parliament. The reason: In what critics describe as gerrymandering, urban constituencies, where the opposition to the government is strong, tend to have tens of thousands of voters represented by a single lawmaker, while rural constituencies, the strongholds of the ruling coalition, typically have far fewer. The governing coalition may still prevail, partly because of the way the electoral system is structured. The National Front won only 51 percent of the popular vote in the last election, but that translated to 63 percent of the seats in Parliament. The reason: In what critics describe as gerrymandering, urban constituencies, where the opposition to the government is strong, tend to have tens of thousands of voters represented by a single lawmaker, while rural constituencies, the strongholds of the ruling coalition, typically have far fewer.
The challenge for the government, Mr. Ibrahim said, will be winning over the flood of new voters who appear “more inclined” to vote for the opposition.The challenge for the government, Mr. Ibrahim said, will be winning over the flood of new voters who appear “more inclined” to vote for the opposition.
Numerous civic organizations have carried out voter registration drives in recent years, and in the upcoming election more than a quarter of the electorate will be voting for the first time. Numerous civic organizations have carried out voter registration drives in recent years, and in the coming election more than a quarter of the electorate will be voting for the first time.
Another challenge for the ruling coalition will be winning back Chinese voters, who have shifted away from the party that is supposed to represent their interests in the ruling coalition, the Malaysian Chinese Association. Another challenge for the governing coalition will be winning back Chinese voters, who have shifted away from the party that is supposed to represent their interests in the coalition, the Malaysian Chinese Association.
Longstanding government policies that reserve quotas for Malays at universities and offer preferential terms for bank loans and land purchases have angered and alienated Chinese voters.Longstanding government policies that reserve quotas for Malays at universities and offer preferential terms for bank loans and land purchases have angered and alienated Chinese voters.
“We are always reminded that we are not full-fledged citizens,” said Ms. Tham, the outdoors instructor.“We are always reminded that we are not full-fledged citizens,” said Ms. Tham, the outdoors instructor.
She describes a sort of awakening among Chinese electorate.She describes a sort of awakening among Chinese electorate.
Despite different ethnicity, she said, “we are all citizens.”Despite different ethnicity, she said, “we are all citizens.”
“We all need to earn money. We all need to send our children to school,” she said, adding she plans to vote for the opposition.“We all need to earn money. We all need to send our children to school,” she said, adding she plans to vote for the opposition.
Mr. Najib, who announced that he was dissolving Parliament on national television, sounded at times defensive during his remarks.Mr. Najib, who announced that he was dissolving Parliament on national television, sounded at times defensive during his remarks.
“Don’t gamble the future of your children and Malaysia,” he said. “Think and contemplate as much as you can before making a decision. Because that will determine the direction of the country and also your grandchildren’s future.”“Don’t gamble the future of your children and Malaysia,” he said. “Think and contemplate as much as you can before making a decision. Because that will determine the direction of the country and also your grandchildren’s future.”
The exact timing of the election, which must be held within two months of the dissolution of Parliament, will not be known until the country’s election commission makes an announcement, possibly next week. Malaysian media have reported that they are likely to be held later this month. Elections for state legislatures will take place simultaneously with the elections for the federal Parliament.The exact timing of the election, which must be held within two months of the dissolution of Parliament, will not be known until the country’s election commission makes an announcement, possibly next week. Malaysian media have reported that they are likely to be held later this month. Elections for state legislatures will take place simultaneously with the elections for the federal Parliament.
Although the opposition has been tested over the last five years at the state level — two of the wealthiest and most developed states, Selangor and Penang, were in the opposition’s hands for the first time — there is still a fear of the unknown among some voters.Although the opposition has been tested over the last five years at the state level — two of the wealthiest and most developed states, Selangor and Penang, were in the opposition’s hands for the first time — there is still a fear of the unknown among some voters.
“Malaysians have been so loyal — it was blind loyalty,” said Ms. Nariza. “We grew up with this system and there was never a strong alternative. Now there is. Can they deliver? We don’t know.” “Malaysians have been so loyal; it was blind loyalty,” Ms. Nariza said. “We grew up with this system, and there was never a strong alternative. Now there is. Can they deliver? We don’t know.”