How the Differing Fortunes of Malaysia’s Chinese-majority Political Parties Could Hurt the Country

TODAY

24 January 2018

Mohamed Nawab Mohamed Osman and Chan Xin Ying

Malaysia’s three Chinese-majority political parties have been in the news this month as they step up preparations for the upcoming general elections.

Despite the brouhaha expressed by the Chinese component parties in BN, it is unlikely that they will win back the support of the Chinese communities.

Chinese representation within the next government will continue to be weak and it is likely that the community will become even more politically marginalised.

With demographic changes which will see Malays accounting for an even bigger majority within Malaysia coupled with the more conservative Islamic outlook of Malaysian Malays, there is little incentive for the UMNO-led government to try to win back Chinese support.

A strong Malay dominated government with a strong Chinese dominated opposition does not bode well for the Malaysian social fabric in the long run.

…Mohamed Nawab Mohamed Osman is Coordinator of Malaysia Programme at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), where Chan Xin Ying is a research analyst.

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Last updated on 24/01/2018