Malaysia's reform movement needs stamina, not surrender

Around this time eight years ago, we were celebrating a landmark victory for what were then the opposition groups in the 2018 general election.

In the 2008 general election, the opposition had broken the two-thirds parliamentary majority that Barisan Nasional had held since the early 1970s – and before that, under the Alliance since independence.

In the 2013 general election, the opposition won more than 50% of the popular vote. But it was not enough for victory, because of seat malapportionment.

In 2018, a Dr Mahathir Mohamad-led Pakatan Harapan broke into Umno strongholds and wrested enough seats for the loose coalition to win a simple majority.

Even then, the Electoral Commission refused to announce the results early. What was the reason for the delay? It took an audacious declaration of victory by Mahathir to break the deadlock.

Two years later, Mahathir cast us back into limbo by resigning abruptly following the “Sheraton Move”, instead of supporting Anwar Ibrahim’s leadership.

Mahiaddin Yasin took the mantle and ploughed us deeper into debt through the darkness of the Covid lockdown. He was ousted after 17 months in office.

Ismail Sabri Yaakob held the reins next and prudently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the opposition to avoid another political coup.

With the MOU giving the coalition a two-thirds voice in Parliament, several important constitutional amendments were passed, including some close to the hearts of the opposition. The anti-hopping law was one of them, and it has surely strengthened our democracy.

In the 2022 general election, the opposition helmed by Anwar just barely won, securing a simple majority only by including Umno – by then all that was left of BN – in the fragile ruling coalition.

That fragile hold has had him fighting a nitpicking opposition with one arm tied behind his back.

The Electoral Commission, which saw some significant revamp after 2018 election, found its reform efforts diluted when the old guard returned to power.

In my view, both the government and the commission are struggling against the inertia of the entrenched order.

There have been reforms: not enough in the eyes of some, too much in the eyes of others. Already there is pressure to roll back some of the hard-fought gains.

We have been seeing a campaign to dissuade participation in future elections, driven by frustration at the government’s failure to deliver promised reforms. If the people who fought for reform declare that they are tired, then it is over.

The current government commands weak ethnic Malay support. If reform-minded voters in Malaysia stay home at the next election, they will be handing victory on a platter to xenophobic rabble-rousers.

Institutional inertia built over six decades cannot be dismantled overnight. What can we expect from less than two terms of weak reformist governments?

We need far greater stamina if we truly want to reform our nation.

Singam is a regular reader of the Aliran website.