Money, Media, Machinery…and Again, Mahathir: Approaching Malaysia’s 14th General Election

New York Southeast Asia Network and NYU Wagner's Office of International Programs

February
21
12:00pm - 1:30pm EST
Public
Date:
February 21, 2018
Time:
12:00pm - 1:30pm
Location:
The Puck Building - 295 Lafayette Street, Lafayette Conference Room (Room 3066), 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10012

Until former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad stepped down from office in 2003, pundits referred to the “4Ms” that enabled his coalition to win successive Malaysian elections: the ruling Barisan Nasional's (BN, National Front’s) advantages in money to spend, access to mainstream media, government machinery to mobilize, and the charismatic, savvy Mahathir himself. Now the 92 year old is back — but this time, as head of the opposition coalition, Pakatan Harapan (Pact of Hope). Mahathir’s reversal throws yet another wrench into Malaysia’s already perplexing electoral works. So far, current Prime Minister Najib Razak has been unscathed by a corruption scandal, but the outcome of these polls, due by August 2018, is far from certain. The BN has already begun spreading the campaign-time wealth, and mainstream media remain firmly in hand, but online news-sites and social-media platforms have radically changed the media landscape. Meanwhile, the usual gerrymandering and malapportionment of electoral districts, curbs on civil liberties, lawsuits against opposition leaders, and other constraints persist. This seminar will survey the scene to suggest, if not what to expect, then at least, what to watch as elections approach. 

 

Meredith Weiss is Professor of Political Science at the University at Albany, SUNY.  She has published widely on political mobilization and contention, the politics of identity and development, and electoral politics in Southeast Asia. She is currently completing a book manuscript on the resilience of electoral-authoritarian politics in Malaysia and Singapore and a collaborative study of “money politics” in Southeast Asia.

NYU Wagner provides reasonable accommodations to people with disabilities. Requests for accommodations for events and services should be submitted at least two weeks before the date of the accommodation need. Please email john.gershman@nyu.edu or call 212.998.7400 for assistance.
Malaysia’s former premier Mahathir Mohamad is the opposition coalition’s choice for Prime Minister if it wins in the country’s next general election. He must give up the prime minister's position - should the opposition coalition win in the next general election - to jailed opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, once Anwar is released from prison and given a royal pardon.