Category: UMNO

The article discusses the political and ethnic turmoil in the country of Malaysia during the year 2007. Long held ethnic and religious discrimination policies affecting the Indian community resulted in a demonstration by tens of thousands of Indians organized by the Hindu Rights Action Force. The lack of public confidence in Prime Minister Abdullah culminated… Continue reading MALAYSIA IN 2007: Abdullah Administration under Siege

The paper outlines the cooperation between UMNO and MCA during the 1955 General Election in Malaya. Article written in Malay.  Publication: 4th International Malaysian Studies Conference; 3-5 August 2004, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi.  Author: Oong, Hak Ching.  Download

Given the fact that demonstrations are becoming a common thing in the Klang Valley, the feel-good factor is presently not working to the government’s advantage. The need to lower subsidies in the coming months, makes it even less likely that Abdullah will pick a date any time soon.  Publication: Opinion Asia, 17 Nov 2007. [Download]… Continue reading Crystal Ball Gazing: Forecasting the Malaysian Elections

Mahathir’s departure is the latest and clearest signal that the Umno-Mahathir-Abdullah trinity, hegemonic up to the general election of April 2004, has crumbled, observes Khoo Boo Teik, in the first of a three-part series. For the pretenders to top posts and powerbrokers, there’s much to do, stealthily and quickly, because Umno has reached a well-known… Continue reading Leaving Umno the Mahathir way: A crumbled trinity

Great danger lies in wait if UMNO fails to summon enough ingenuity in remarketing itself. The recent use of dubious sedition charges against major critics like blogger Raja Petra Raja Kamarudin, journalist and author Syed Akbar Ali and DAP MP Karpal Singh does not bode well for the country. The less the party succeeds in… Continue reading In Malaysia: UMNO must sharpen its wits, not its elbows

Time for Umno to rise above ethnic politics. By Ooi Kee Beng. [First published in Singapore’s Straits Times on 4 Jan 2005] Download

A common refrain in Malaysia is that politics enters a critical period every ten years or so. But in truth, crises come to Kuala Lumpur (and now to Putrajaya) more regularly than that. A speedy assessment may suggest the riots of 1969 to be the first crisis after independence in 1957, followed by conflicts within… Continue reading Malaysia facing a crisis, but what else is new?

Over the last four years, many have become disillusioned with PM Abdullah. But to be fair, governing Malaysia is no easy task. After 50 years of crisis management, the profound changes that Abdullah needed to make were too much – for him and for most other potential leaders.  Publication: Opinion Asia, 16 Jan 2008.  Author:… Continue reading Political Change in Malaysia: Contextualising reality