IKMAS Seminar Series No.8/2016
THE INSTITUTE OF MALAYSIAN AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES (IKMAS) UNIVERSITI KEBANGSAAN MALAYSIA cordially invites you to:
IKMAS SEMINAR SERIES NO.8/2016
Title : Seminar on the 2016 Sarawak State Elections
Date : 6th June 2016 (Monday)
Time : 10.00 am – 12.30 pm
Venue : IKMAS Seminar Room, IKMAS UKM
Abstract
The Sarawak Barisan Nasional, the incumbent governing coalition under the leadership of Chief Minister Adenan Satem, won 72 out of 82 seats – almost a clean sweep, surpassing Adenan Satem’s own expectation. Why did Sarawakians voted overwhelmingly for the Barisan Nasional? Conversely, why did the opposition parties fared badly? These two intriguing questions will be the focus of this seminar. Apart from that, this seminar will also discuss the 2016 election at the micro level by looking at the local dynamics in several urban and rural seats in Sibu, Kuching and Sri Aman. Among the local dynamics that will be analyzed are the campaign strategies of the contesting parties and candidates; the campaign issues; vote-buying; the role of local strongmen; the power play between local component parties and the dynamics of national and local leaders. In addition to discussing the salient features of the election, this seminar will also look at the meaning of the 2016 election to Sarawak domestic politics and Sarawak’s relations with the federal government in Putrajaya.
The Speakers:
Associate Prof. Dr Faisal S. Hazis is the Head of Centre for Asian Studies and Senior Fellow at the Institute of Malaysian and International Studies, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. His research interests include electoral politics, state-society relations, democracy and civil movements. Faisal has studied Sarawak politics for over 18 years and published numerous books and articles on the subject. Among the notable ones are ‘Domination and Contestation: the Muslim Bumiputera Politics in Sarawak’ (ISEAS Press), ‘The Politics of Development in Sarawak’ (UKM Press) and ‘Patronage, Power and Prowess: Barisan Nasional’s Dominance in East Malaysia’ (USM Press).
Associate Prof. Dr Richard Mason is Senior Fellow at the Institute of Malaysian and International Studies. His main research interest is in the area of American studies, with particular reference to American foreign relations in Asia during the Cold War era. He is also interested in modern and contemporary Malaysian history and politics, with particular reference to Sarawak; and has written on Sarawak state’s elections during the late 1980s and early 1990s, focusing electioneering among the Dayak.
Associate Prof. Dr Helen Ting Mu Hung is Senior Fellow at the Institute of Malaysian and International Studies, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. Her research interests include, among others, interethnic and interreligious relations, the politics of national identity and national history, as well as democratization. This is her first foray into electoral politics. Her publications include ‘Institutional Reforms and Bi-party Political System: Beyond Expedient Multiculturalism’, ‘The Politics of National Identity in West Malaysia: Continued Mutation or Critical Transition?’ and ‘Gender Discourse in Malay Politics: Old Wine in New Bottle?’
Haris Zuan is Junior Fellow at the Institute of Malaysian and International Studies, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. His research interests include state-society relation, identities, and social movements. Among his election-related publications are ‘PRU13: Pengalaman Pulau Pinang’ (UUM 2016) and ‘PRU13: Perubahan Budaya Politik Malaysia Dan Krisis Legitimasi Moral Barisan Nasional’ (Jurnal Kajian Malaysia 2014).
We look forward to your participation in this seminar. Confirmation of your attendance is greatly appreciated. For further information please call 8921- 5839 or 8921-3782.