Malaysia

A new series of perspectives on the “Malaysia Baharu” from Malaysian scholars, activists, and policymakers.

Pakatan is using state enterprise as a tool of patronage just as well as Barisan.

Time is running out for the state's rebranded BN government, despite a late embrace of 'state nationalism'.

The 'new Malaysia' challenge is to redefine its trade and industrial policies, and to work out where the new sources of growth and tax revenue can be, more so after the GST's removal.

Revisit the 20 most popular articles published at New Mandala this year.

Observations on what many are calling Malaysia's answer to Indonesia's 212 movement.

The ‘new Malaysia’ is viewed with sceptical eyes in poor rural communities in Johor.

The majoritarian first-past-the-post system has had its day. It’s time to think about bold options for reform.

Can the new climate change ministry navigate the complex politics of competing interests when tackling the threats of extreme weather? Or is an independent commission answerable to Parliament needed to hold the government to account?

Despite the routing of UMNO at GE14 amid regime change, Malay politicians still dominate the new coalition government.

As long as the global attitude towards religious issues doesn't change, and Malaysians themselves mostly stay silent on these issues, the temptation will always be to smother dissent in the ‘invisibility cloak of religion’.

Establishing parliamentary committees will help the new PH government meet its GE14 promises of better governance, as ministers and senior officials can be called to account.

Will current levels of caution on Bumiputera policies persist, or will the new government seize the opportunity to reform? Will it remain fearful of being accused of sidelining Malays, or will it make Malays more capable and competitive?

By drawing stricter boundaries between what is ‘Islamic’ and ‘un-Islamic’, and between who is ‘Malay’ and ‘non-Malay’, the anxiety about 'Malay unity' is addressed in a post-May 9 Malaysia.

Two leading scholars on the ideological and institutional legacies Pakatan Harapan inherits from the BN regime.

What has and hasn't changed about how the media report on politics and policy after GE14?

The first in a series of podcasts providing a snapshot of Malaysia in the aftermath of GE14.

Illiberalism at home, and pro-market ideologies abroad, are putting pressure on Southeast Asian civil society organisations' financial health.

Opponents of racism in Malaysia need to understand that proponents of racial politics do believe in race—and only by understanding the appeal of racial thinking can racism be defeated.

The GE14 result reflects PAS' enduring influence, yet the PH parties together with IKRAM and ABIM offer a viable ‘Islamic alternative’ for pious Muslim voters.

The ‘cari makan’ or a rent-seeking political culture may be the hardest thing to reform in Malaysia, even under a reformist government. And human nature will make this almost impossible to do.

Thinking about the major causes and consequences of Malaysia's historic election result.

Public lecture on GE14's implications hosted by the ANU Malaysia Institute on 21 May.

The Malaysian women's rights activist talks about her experience managing a parliamentary campaign in Malaysia's general election.