At present, there are mainly 2 parties (coalitions) in Malaysia.
Barisan National (National Front) & Pakatan Rakyat (People's Pact/Alliance).
Note: Pakatan Rakyat (PR) is an informal political party during GE13.
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| Barisan Nasional |
Started with Perikatan (Alliance) under the late Tunku Abdul Rahman to Barisan Nasional (BN) - now under the leadership of Datuk Najib Tun Razak, it has always been Malaysia's federal ruling political party since independence.
The longest ruling party in the world.
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| Pakatan Rakyat |
At the Opposition front, PR is led by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (Ex-Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia).
(Anwar's sacking & his black-eyed saga sparked the rise of 'reformasi' (reform) movement & the shouts of 'reformasi' are heard till this day especially at PR's organized rallies.)
Formed in 1973 succeeding from Perikatan (Alliance), BN almost & always like the former, is a coalition of race based parties, each representing major segment of race in the peninsula as well as Sabah & Sarawak in East Malaysia.
In a race based system, very likely, racial politics is being used & practiced where the issue of race is 'exploited' by political 'masters' to forward an agenda.
Call it a co-incidence, Malaysia's GE13 has demonstrated system of race based politics 'crumbled' under the pressure & force of urbanization
.
PR, a coalition of opposition parties namely PKR, DAP & PAS, is becoming a force to be reckoned with by incumbent BN post GE2008.
Their effective approach on the electorate offering them an alternative Govt, pledge of equality for all citizens and moving away from race based politics among others, were well received by major electorate.
Prior to GE13, PR is more of a loose alliance of opposition parties where co-operation, understanding & togetherness was not at satisfactory level.
Even at this stage, GE13's overlapping of contestants by PR proved how much understanding is still lacking.
But overall, they are more united as a coalition this time though status as a party remained informal.
Fell short to form the new Govt in recent GE13, they continued to deny BN it's two third majority in 2 consecutive general elections (2008 & 2013).
They secured an additional 7 parliamentary seats & 51% win of the popular votes.
BN's first time loss in popular votes is a blow to it's moral reputation.
On the other hand, PR's loss of Kedah, (a state won in 2008 GE) was demoralizing when weak Govt administration was said to be the major factor.
PR is also disappointed for failing to recapture the state of Perak returned to BN following Perak constitutional crisis triggered by defection of PR's State Legislators.
13th GE was seen as the most competitive & heated battle between the 2 political parties with both divide claiming confidence of a victory & forming the next govt.
PR was early with their manifesto. Some economist applauded PR's manifesto where problems affecting Malaysian economy were addressed despite doubt of some of it's odd and populist approach & measures.
DS Najib & other BN leaders alleged it will only bankcrupt the nation.
Meanwhile, BN's manifesto came after PR. Efforts & attempts were made to outdo and belittle if not ridicule PR's manifesto.PR retaliated by accusing BN of copying 22 elements from their manifesto. For that, many felt BN has lost the moral battle in the eyes of the public.
There are opinions that if a direct comparison of both manifestos are made, people may get fooled but a deeper look at it will tell us how different actually both groups can be.
In 1999 GE, BN won with 147 seats to 45 by then loose alliance of opposition parties, the Barisan Alternatif (Alternative Front).
BN lost 15 seats for BA though maintained it's two-third majority with 56.53% in popularity votes.
Dr Mahathir Mohamad was at the helm of BN while Fadzil Noor headed BA.
Due to Anwar Ibrahim's saga, the win was BN's lowest since independence with the exception of 1969 GE.
Anwar was in prison then serving his six years sentence for corruption. The impact of Anwar's incarceration saw many Malays deserted Umno, main component party of BN.
However, in 2004 GE, incumbent BN had won in style. Under the new leadership of Dato' Sri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, BN had won with an increased in majority.
The biggest majority of BN since 1978 elections with popular votes of 63.9%.
They took with them 198 parliamentary seats leaving only 20 for combined opposition & 1 Independence.
In sharp contrast, BN suffered a major loss in 2008 GE still under the leadership of Dato' Abdullah.
Out of 222 parliamentary seats, Opposition front had won a significant 82 while BN had to be happy with the remaining 140 seats. BN obtained 50.27% of popular votes.
It's BN's first time since 1969 elections to have been denied it's two-third majority.
To add salt to injury, BN also lost 5 out of 12 contested states compared with only 1 in the last elections.
The early preparation, and Anwar Ibrahim's return to active politics after his verdicts was overturned &
subsequently released from prison were seen as contributing factors to BN's heavy loss.
On top of that there were various issues that made electorate dissatisfied & unhappy. Issues such as inflation,fuel subsidies, mismanagement,corruption - to name a few.
It was alleged that the anti Khairy Jamaluddin (son-in law to Dato' Seri Abdullah Badawi) was another major factor for BN's big loss.
Khairy was alleged, as stated by Dr Mahathir, influencing the Prime Minister when making critical decisions.
With 133 seats to PR 89, BN has received the mandate to continue governing Malaysia for another term.
When 89 PR parliamentarians have taken their oaths & seats in Parliament, PR have accepted GE13 results.
Should election petition can make a difference, let the courts rule.
Popular votes is not a mechanism to determine a new govt here though it can be useful to indicate the lack in proportionality. For this moment, it's not a legitimacy.
As believer of Democracy, I will be happy if DS Anwar could treat his light moments with DS Najib on Monday as a little step towards future engagement & constructive meeting.
Change could also be achieved
through dialogues, negotiations and so on.
Like wise man says, "You don't get what you ask, you get what you negotiate".
Thus, DS Anwar with PM Datuk Seri Najib ought to move ahead, working together on electoral reforms.
Malaysians have to accept the fact that BN, is the legitimate Govt of the day, The Ruling Party.
To be contd...
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