ON 9th May, 2018, the Malaysian people surprised the world – and themselves – by voting out a ruling party, UMNO and alliance, the Barisan Nasional (BN) that had held power in one form or another for almost sixty-one years.
While a cocktail of abuses from gerrymandering, malapportionment, stringent media controls and lavish monetary inducements had delivered victory for the BN in the past, this time around the mood was different.
With a “world-beating” 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) financial scandal, a nonagenarian but iconic prime ministerial candidate, Dr Mahathir Mohamad and a formidable opposition alliance in the form of the Pakatan Harapan (PH, or “Pact of Hope”), six decades of political history was swept away.
This upset marks a major reversal of the seemingly global march towards authoritarianism and strongman rule – coming from Southeast Asia, of all places.
Weren’t we supposed to be a byword for abuse of power, corruption and cronyism?
So how will the Malaysian vote – if at all – impact the region?
In Indonesia, the PH victory has generated excitement amongst the opposition in the run-up to next year’s presidential elections.
With incumbent President Joko Widodo leading (and by a significant margin) in all the polls, Dr. Mahathir's shock win has presented a tantalising prize to General Prabowo Subianto's moribund campaign.
Meanwhile in Thailand, oppositionists are saying that former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak’s expected prosecution for alleged corruption means that Thailand’s current leaders (most of whom are ex-military men) must also be tried in court. Needless to say, this has sent a chill through General Prayuth Chan-ocha’s establishment.
Moreover, Dr Mahathir’s re-emergence briefly prompted speculation that another retired premier (and former Democrat Party leader) Chuan Leekpai – who is pushing 80 – would throw his hat in the ring.
Then there’s Singapore, Malaysia’s self-important sibling to the south. Formerly the bailiwick of Dr Mahathir’s life-long adversary, Lee Kuan Yew, the island nation has been ruled (if not browbeaten) by his People’s Action Party (PAP) since 1959.
Despite running Singapore competently enough in economic terms, the PAP has not been immune to heavy-handed tactics to ensure its continuing success. These may have worked in the past, but perhaps not in the future.
At the same time, ordinary Singaporeans – much like their counterparts north of the Causeway – are struggling with stagnating salaries and ever-higher costs.
The inability of the PAP’s elite cadre of scholar-bureaucrats to connect and “feel the pain” of the people makes them as vulnerable as UMNO’s infamous warlords.
Last year’s unseemly family squabble over Lee Kuan Yew's Oxley Road residence has further tarnished what was for many a flawless brand.
Furthermore, the September 2017 presidential election – unlike the seminal 2011 polls – was highly polarising.
Tan Cheng Bock, former PAP stalwart turned inveterate critic, was barred from standing, leaving only the PAP-anointed candidate, current President Halimah Yacob, on the field.
Despite her being a trailblazer – Singapore’s first female and second Malay head of state – the walkover was a cause for division.
The lesson here is clear: elections matter.
Governments – in Southeast Asia and elsewhere – must take them seriously, meaning they must hold themselves to a higher level of accountability.
And yes, that includes you, Hun Sen.
Of course, it will take many more electoral surprises before we can say that the culture of impunity and abuse that has characterised the region is no longer dominant.
However advances in technology and social media have flattened the political terrain and strengthened the hand of the man (or woman) on the street.
Leaders who can’t, or won’t learn this lesson will be kicked out, sooner or later.
It’s that simple.
*The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of Astro AWANI.
Karim Raslan
Fri Jun 22 2018
![Mahathir's victory: Southeast Asia must take heed Mahathir's victory: Southeast Asia must take heed](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2018-06/71529648781_PrimeMinister.jpg)
Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Mohamad Sabu (4th and 5th, left) looking on at an election rally in Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan in a file picture during the GE14 campaign. Joe Kit Yong/Ceritalah
Kylian Mbappe tandatangan kontrak dengan Real Madrid
Bintang bola sepak Perancis Kylian Mbappe menandatangani kontrak selama lima tahun dengan kelab Sepanyol Real Madrid pada Selasa.
Pelepasan ketujuh air sisa nuklear Fukushima ke laut selesai
Jepun telah menyelesaikan pusingan ketujuh pelepasan air sisa radioaktif yang dirawat dari loji kuasa nuklear Fukushima Daiichi ke Lautan Pasifik pada Selasa.
Empat termasuk kapten maut dalam pertempuran
Empat anggota tentera India termasuk kapten meninggal dunia akibat kecederaan selepas pertempuuran pada malam isnin di Hutan Desa.
Pakistan sahkan 4 warganya terbunuh di Oman
Pakistan berkata pada Selasa empat warganya terbunuh dalam insiden tembakan pada malam Isnin berhampiran ibu negara Oman, Muscat.
Lima terbunuh, puluhan cedera dalam protes antikuota di Bangladesh
Sekurang-kurangnya empat orang terbunuh dan puluhan lagi cedera dalam pertempuran antara pelajar yang memprotes sistem kuota dalam pekerjaan sektor awam dan polis di pelbagai bahagian Bangladesh pada Selasa.
Kerajaan cadang perkenal pembiayaan swasta
Kerajaan menyasarkan untuk memperkenalkan pembiayaan swasta alternatif bagi memastikan kemampanan kewangan program sektor air, sekali gus mengurangkan kebergantungan pada perbelanjaan kerajaan dan mengukuhkan daya tahan.
Saya tak fitnah Guan Eng, cuma jelaskan siasatan SPRM - Muhyiddin
Presiden Bersatu Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin memberitahu Mahkamah Tinggi Kuala Lumpur hari ini bahawa beliau tidak memfitnah Lim Guan Eng berhubung isu pengecualian cukai terhadap Yayasan Albukhary
KPT alu-alukan dapatan, cadangan PAC - Zambry
Ini termasuklah cadangan pelaksanaan Garis Panduan Pelaburan dan Pembiayaan oleh Universiti Awam 2024 kepada anak-anak syarikat di bawah seliaan Kementerian Pendidikan Tinggi (KPT).
Lebih 340,000 syarikat buat transaksi serah simpan maklumat pemunyaan benefisial
Sebanyak 340,637 syarikat telah membuat transaksi serah simpan maklumat pemunyaan benefisial (beneficial ownership) bagi tempoh 1 April hingga 14 Julai lepas.
Polis tunggu laporan makmal tentukan punca kematian Nur Farah Kartini
Polis sedang menunggu laporan makmal bagi menentukan punca kematian berhubung kes pembunuhan bekas penuntut Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, Nur Farah Kartini Abdullah.
![Perjanjian penyelesaian DOJ, Jho Low tidak dibincangkan dalam mesyuarat Kabinet - Fahmi Perjanjian penyelesaian DOJ, Jho Low tidak dibincangkan dalam mesyuarat Kabinet - Fahmi](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-05/81716808744_JhoLow.jpg)
Perjanjian penyelesaian DOJ, Jho Low tidak dibincangkan dalam mesyuarat Kabinet - Fahmi
Isu berhubung perjanjian penyelesaian di antara Jabatan Kehakiman Amerika Syarikat dengan Low Taek Jho atau Jho Low tidak dibincangkan dalam mesyuarat Jemaah Menteri pada Jumaat
![Rosmah nafi barang kemas, beg tangan, aksesori mewah dibeli hasil aktiviti haram Rosmah nafi barang kemas, beg tangan, aksesori mewah dibeli hasil aktiviti haram](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-05/41716888562_RosmahMansor.jpg)
Rosmah nafi barang kemas, beg tangan, aksesori mewah dibeli hasil aktiviti haram
Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor menegaskan bahawa barang kemas, beg tangan dan barangan mewah lain yang berada dalam milikannya bukan dibeli dengan wang hasil aktiviti haram.
![Jho Low masukkan wang RM100 juta sebagai hadiah kepada bekas peguam 1MDB Jho Low masukkan wang RM100 juta sebagai hadiah kepada bekas peguam 1MDB](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-11/61700133261_jasmineloojholow.jpg)
Jho Low masukkan wang RM100 juta sebagai hadiah kepada bekas peguam 1MDB
Bekas peguam 1Malaysia Development Berhadmengaku di Mahkamah Tinggi bahawa beliau menerima hadiah RM100 juta daripada ahli perniagaan dalam buruan Jho Low, walaupun telah meninggalkan syarikat itu.
!['Saya percayakan Jho Low sebab dia sudah miliki wang berjuta' - Jasmine Loo 'Saya percayakan Jho Low sebab dia sudah miliki wang berjuta' - Jasmine Loo](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-03/51710497419_MDB.jpg)
'Saya percayakan Jho Low sebab dia sudah miliki wang berjuta' - Jasmine Loo
Bekas peguam 1MDB memberitahu Mahkamah Tinggi Kuala Lumpur pada Jumaat bahawa tidak terlintas di fikirannya ahli perniagaan dalam buruan Jho Low adalah seorang penipu.
![Utusan Malaysia mohon maaf kepada pembaca Utusan Malaysia mohon maaf kepada pembaca](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-01/71706609177_TBNajibjpg.jpg)
Utusan Malaysia mohon maaf kepada pembaca
Portal berita tempatan Utusan Malaysia memohon maaf selepas menerbitkan artikel berhubung pengampunan bekas Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
![Najib tidak maklumkan terbitan bon AS$3.5 bilion kepada Kabinet Najib tidak maklumkan terbitan bon AS$3.5 bilion kepada Kabinet](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-01/71704716766_NajibTunRazak.jpg)
Najib tidak maklumkan terbitan bon AS$3.5 bilion kepada Kabinet
Mahkamah Tinggi hari ini diberitahu Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak tidak memaklumkan Kabinet mengenai terbitan bon AS$3.5 bilion.
![Najib disyaki terima AS$681 juta untuk beli undi PRU13 - SPRM Najib disyaki terima AS$681 juta untuk beli undi PRU13 - SPRM](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-11/61698900701_TBNajib.jpg)
Najib disyaki terima AS$681 juta untuk beli undi PRU13 - SPRM
Seorang pegawai penyiasat SPRM memberitahu Mahkamah Tinggi di sini pada Selasa bahawa, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak disyaki menerima AS$681 juta untuk membeli untuk PRU13 pada 11 tahun lalu.
![Najib belanja RM80,000 untuk ubat cegah kanser pada 2013 - Pegawai penyiasat Najib belanja RM80,000 untuk ubat cegah kanser pada 2013 - Pegawai penyiasat](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-11/61698900701_TBNajib.jpg)
Najib belanja RM80,000 untuk ubat cegah kanser pada 2013 - Pegawai penyiasat
Mahkamah diberitahu bahawa Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak membelanjakan RM80,000 pada 2013 untuk suplemen dan vitamin bagi pencegahan kanser daripada wang derma.
![Muhyiddin titipkan doa buat Najib Muhyiddin titipkan doa buat Najib](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-11/41698991918_MuhyiddinNajib.jpg)
Muhyiddin titipkan doa buat Najib
Semalam, Menteri Kesihatan, Dr Zaliha Mustafa dalam sidang media di Parlimen turut mengesahkan masalah kesihatan yang sedang dihadapi Najib.
![Berita tempatan pilihan sepanjang hari ini Berita tempatan pilihan sepanjang hari ini](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-08/61691941883_TBBERITAx.jpg)
Berita tempatan pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Berikut adalah berita yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang Selasa, 15 Ogos 2023.