IKMAS Seminar Series No.1/2018. Malaysia Decides 2018: Continuity or Change?

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ABSTRACT

With the low approval ratings of Prime Minister Najib Razak and the negative sentiments against the government, the Malaysian electorate could punish the BN in the 14th general election (GE14), leading to the collapse of a 61-year rule. However, many analysts argue that the opposition’s march to Putrajaya will again be denied as the opposition fails to get their act together. However, some Pakatan leaders believe that they can still win federal power since there is a groundswell feeling of anger and frustration among the electorate against the ruling party. Some Pakatan leaders boldly claim that there will be a Malay tsunami; subsequently eroding UMNO’s and PAS’s popularity. So who will win GE14? What are the key electoral dynamics that will affect the outcome of the “father of all elections”? These questions become the focus of this seminar.

BIODATA

Associate Prof. Dr Faisal S. Hazis is a Senior Fellow at the Institute of Malaysian and International Studies (IKMAS), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. He is also the Head of Centre for Asian Studies at IKMAS. He specializes in electoral politics, Malaysian politics and democratisation. Among his selected publications are Malaysia in 2017: Strong Economic Growth Amidst Intense Power Struggle (2018), Competitive Elections and Regime Stability in Malaysia (2018), and Patronage, Power and Prowess: Barisan Nasional’s Equilibrium Dominance in East Malaysia (2015). Faisal is a regular commentator on Malaysian politics. His opinion is quoted by various media, including Reuters, Bloomberg, Wall Street Journal, Straits Times, South China Morning Post, The Malaymailonline, Malaysiakini, The Star and Free Malaysia Today. He is a life member of ALIRAN, a reform movement dedicated to justice, freedom and solidarity.