11/05/2026

MONDAY | MAY 11, 2026

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Parties catering to political elites alienate voters, says academic PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s democracy may have evolved since the historic 2018 political transition, but many voters remain alienated by what critics describe as an entrenched political elite operating under different banners. International Islamic University Malaysia political analyst and Iseas–Yusof Ishak Institute fellow Assoc Prof Dr Syaza Shukri said the country’s major coalitions continue to be dominated by the same governing class despite shifting political alignments and branding. “Parties appear ‘the same’ because they seem to cater to the political elites and governing class. “When people call for a ‘third force’, they are looking for a party that has not yet been tainted by the elites.” She said the landmark 14th general election in 2018, which ended Barisan Nasional’s (BN) uninterrupted six-decade rule, was driven more by the urgency of removing the incumbent government than by a coherent long-term governing vision. “As Pakatan Harapan (PH) under former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad later admitted, they did not really think they needed to implement the promises in Buku Harapan (PH’s manifesto). So, that is why things appeared slightly haphazard in the beginning.” She said while the Opposition’s victory marked a watershed moment in Malaysian politics, it also exposed weaknesses in coalition management and post-election planning. “Again, because the focus was simply to bring down BN, once they succeeded, they could not even keep the coalition together. So, I think what went wrong was the lack of a clear roadmap for Malaysia. “What went right is that our institutions, despite their own problems, were still able to sustain the democratic process.” Syaza said despite years of political turbulence, Malaysia’s institutional framework has remained intact, allowing elections and peaceful transfers of power to continue amid shifting alliances and changing governments. She said political convergence towards the centre is not unusual in first-past-the-post electoral systems, in which parties often moderate their positions to secure broader support. However, she added that the deeper issue lies in the public perception that political actors remain disconnected from ordinary Malaysians. “The disappointment is that PH promised to fight corruption, but the perception is that things still look very much the same.” Syaza said the growing call for a “third force” reflects frustration with existing coalitions rather than rejection of democracy itself. She said Malaysia is likely to remain governed through coalition arrangements, which she believes can function effectively if political parties respect democratic norms and accept electoral uncertainty. “These parties should see themselves as temporary leaders who can be changed in any election. If that becomes the mindset, there will be smoother policy continuity because the focus would be on improving existing policies instead of constantly changing things for legacy purposes. It also keeps governments in check and accountable, knowing they can always be voted out.” However, Syaza added that continued attempts to topple governments outside the electoral process risk further eroding public confidence in the political system. “People are fatigued right now because there seems to be no respect for the political system,” she said, referring to ongoing political manoeuvres aimed at changing administrations outside general elections. Still, she expressed cautious optimism that Malaysia is moving towards a more stable democratic equilibrium. – BY HARITH KAMAL

DISPLAY OF DIPLOMACY ... His Majesty the King of Malaysia Sultan Ibrahim meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Saturday, during which he invited Putin to visit Malaysia in 2027. – PIC COURTESY OF SULTAN IBRAHIMFACEBOOK

Malaysian politics still evolving after GE14: Analyst

o ‘Democratic maturity best measured by achievements in institutional stability, policy clarity and public confidence’

shared direction. “The challenge arises when coalition politics is not accompanied by policy discipline, a clear common platform and effective conflict resolution mechanisms. “In such situations, the rakyat may begin to view coalitions as instruments of political survival rather than vehicles for reform.” Awang Azman said voter behaviour has shifted since 2018, with ideological loyalty replaced by performance-based assessments. He added that what is more worrying is the growing trend of “least worst option” voting. “Voters are supporting parties not because

Ű BY HARITH KAMAL newsdesk@thesundaily.com

public confidence in the political process.” He said on those fronts, significant gaps remain as Malaysia has seen repeated changes in government, four prime ministers, shifting alliances, coalition breakdowns and institutional controversies that have steadily eroded public trust in politics. Still, he said the growing sense of political exhaustion does not necessarily signal democratic decline. Awang Azman said Malaysia’s political landscape has undergone a major structural shift, with no party wielding the dominance Umno once enjoyed under BN. He stressed that tensions within ruling coalitions should be viewed from two perspectives – fragmentation and normalisation. “On one hand, they reflect increasing political fragmentation as there is no longer a single dominant coalition capable of controlling the entire landscape as BN once did. On the other hand, this represents part of the normalisation of coalition politics.” He added that Malaysia is operating within a multipolar parliamentary system in which governance depends more on negotiation and compromise than outright dominance. However, he said coalition governments risk losing public legitimacy if they are not anchored by policy discipline and a coherent “Political fatigue today reflects a democracy that is maturing, but through a process filled with friction rather than one that is smooth or linear.”

PETALING JAYA: Eight years after Malaysians delivered a historic political earthquake by ending Barisan Nasional’s (BN) six-decade grip on the country’s administration, the nation’s democratic transition is increasingly being seen not as a failed revolution but as an unfinished and turbulent journey. What began on May 9, 2018 as a euphoric push for reform and accountability has since evolved into a fractured political era marked by collapsing coalitions, party hopping, elite power deals and growing voter fatigue. In the 14th general election (GE14) in 2018, Pakatan Harapan secured 113 of 222 parliamentary seats, forming the federal government in the first transfer of power away from BN since independence. However, political analysts say the turbulence that followed may also reflect a democracy still learning to function without a single dominant political force at its centre. Universiti Malaya sociopolitical analyst Prof Datuk Dr Awang Azman Awang Pawi (pic) said Malaysia suceeded in changing after GE14 but the transformation has not reached the depth many Malaysians had envisioned. “GE14 proved that Malaysia’s democracy had matured in one important aspect, namely the peaceful transfer of federal power after more than six decades of BN dominance. However, democratic maturity is not measured solely by the ability to replace a government. “It is also measured through institutional stability, policy clarity, party integrity and

they are fully convinced by them but because they wish to prevent an alternative they perceive as worse from gaining power.” He said despite widespread frustration, Malaysians remain politically engaged and are more willing than before to punish parties, switch allegiances and demand accountability. “This is a sign of a more politically conscious and active democracy,” he added. However, he said public

acceptance of coalition governments does not automatically translate into public confidence. “When former enemies suddenly become political allies without a convincing moral or policy narrative, the public becomes confused. When reforms are promised but progress remains slow, the public becomes exhausted. “Malaysians may accept coalition politics, but they will not accept coalition politics that are empty of principles.” Looking ahead, Awang Azman said the next general election could become a defining test of whether Malaysia’s political class is capable of moving beyond alliance-building towards credible governance.