The 1996 UMNO party election: "Two for the show"

Pacific Affairs

Volumn 70, Issue 3, 1997, Pages 393-409

  Case, William ^a  

^a NONE

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EID: 0041120370     PISSN: 0030851X     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.2307/2761029     Document Type: Review

References (48)

1. See Harold Crouch, "Malaysia: Neither Authoritarian nor Democratic," in K. Hewison, R. Robison, and G. Rodan, eds., Southeast Asia in the 1990s: Authoritarianism, Democracy, and Capitalism (St. Leonards: Allen and Unwin, 1993), pp. 133-58; and William Case, "Semi-democracy in Malaysia: Withstanding the Pressures for Regime Change," Pacific Affairs, vol. 66, pp. 183-205.
2. See Harold Crouch, "Malaysia: Neither Authoritarian nor Democratic," in K. Hewison, R. Robison, and G. Rodan, eds., Southeast Asia in the 1990s: Authoritarianism, Democracy, and Capitalism (St. Leonards: Allen and Unwin, 1993), pp. 133-58; and William Case, "Semi-democracy in Malaysia: Withstanding the Pressures for Regime Change," Pacific Affairs, vol. 66, pp. 183-205.
3. Crouch has probably developed this argument most fully. After examining inter-elite competitions, "communal" relations, and class structures in Malaysia, he concludes that "socioeconomic change is...ambiguous in its impact, generating pressures that in some respects push the regime in an authoritarian direction while other pressures facilitate democratization." In Crouch, "Malaysia," p. 135.
4. "Membership in Party Up by 11.8 PC," New Straits Times (hereafter NST), October 11, 1996. p. 10.
5. A high-level UMNO official and cabinet minister stated in an interview (January 1990) that upon becoming a branch leader, "one came close to power. Party dignitaries passing through call upon you, sit next to you at dinner, etc. [But for divisional heads,] the sky's the limit."
6. There is a total of forty-four seats in the UMNO Supreme Council, with the nineteen nonelected seats either ex officio ones or appointed by the party president. There are also five vice-presidencies in the party, three of them elected and two held as ex officio positions by the leaders of the UMNO Youth and Wanita.
7. Harold Crouch, Government and Society in Malaysia (Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1996), p. 39.
8. Symbolized, perhaps, by the Petronas twin towers, brooding on K. L.'s skyline and linked critically by a "skybridge." For background on the formation of the UMNO Baru, see Gordon P. Means, Malaysian Politics: The Second Generation (Singapore: Oxford University Press, 1991), chapters 7-8.
9. Far Eastern Economic Review (hereafter FEER), April 25, 1996, p. 24.
10. See the contrasting interpretations made by Harold Crouch, "Authoritarian Trends, the UMNO Split and the Limits to State Power," and Khoo Kay Jin, "The Grand Vision: Mahathir and Modernization," in Loh Kok Wah and Joel Kahn, eds., Fragmented Visions (Sydney: Allen and Unwin, 1993), pp. 21-43 and 44-76. See also James V. Jesudason, who, while analyzing Malaysia's broader coalition of government forces, asserts strongly the UMNO's "syncretistic" ideological content. "The Syncretic State and the Structuring of Oppositional Politics in Malaysia," in Garry Rodan, ed., Political Oppositions in Industrializing Asia (London and NY: Routledge, 1996), pp. 128-60.
11. See the contrasting interpretations made by Harold Crouch, "Authoritarian Trends, the UMNO Split and the Limits to State Power," and Khoo Kay Jin, "The Grand Vision: Mahathir and Modernization," in Loh Kok Wah and Joel Kahn, eds., Fragmented Visions (Sydney: Allen and Unwin, 1993), pp. 21-43 and 44-76. See also James V. Jesudason, who, while analyzing Malaysia's broader coalition of government forces, asserts strongly the UMNO's "syncretistic" ideological content. "The Syncretic State and the Structuring of Oppositional Politics in Malaysia," in Garry Rodan, ed., Political Oppositions in Industrializing Asia (London and NY: Routledge, 1996), pp. 128-60.
12. See the contrasting interpretations made by Harold Crouch, "Authoritarian Trends, the UMNO Split and the Limits to State Power," and Khoo Kay Jin, "The Grand Vision: Mahathir and Modernization," in Loh Kok Wah and Joel Kahn, eds., Fragmented Visions (Sydney: Allen and Unwin, 1993), pp. 21-43 and 44-76. See also James V. Jesudason, who, while analyzing Malaysia's broader coalition of government forces, asserts strongly the UMNO's "syncretistic" ideological content. "The Syncretic State and the Structuring of Oppositional Politics in Malaysia," in Garry Rodan, ed., Political Oppositions in Industrializing Asia (London and NY: Routledge, 1996), pp. 128-60.
13. Gordon P. Means writes that the "UMNO remains the most vital and democratic party in either Malaysia or Singapore." In "Soft Authoritarianism in Malaysia and Singapore," Journal of Democracy, vol. 7, no. 4, (1996), p. 104.
14. For an analysis of the "bonus votes" scheme, see William Case, "The UMNO Party Election in Malaysia: One for the Money," Asian Survey, vol. 34, no. 10 (1994), pp. 916-30.
15. For a concise overview, see Terence Edmund Gomez, "Anwar vs. Mahathir," Aliran Monthly, vol. 15, no. 9 (1995), pp. 1-11.
16. "On a Platter," PEER, May 2, 1996, p. 68. However, Daim had no doubt gained Mahathir's approval for the deal beforehand.
17. Discussion with University of Malaya academic (November 1995).
18. "No Contest for Top Two," New Sunday Times, November 26, 1995, p. 1. See also "All Say Aye," Sunday Star, November 26, 1995, p. 1.
19. "No Contest for Top Two," New Sunday Times, November 26, 1995, p. 1. See also "All Say Aye," Sunday Star, November 26, 1995, p. 1.
20. FEER, May 16, 1996, pp. 14-15.
21. Mahathir stated in an address before the 1996 general assembly began: "Democracy in the party does not mean only those who can afford to use money to buy votes have the chance to be leaders." Sun, October 7, 1996, p. 2.
22. See Ian Stewart, "Malays Defy Ban on Poll Meetings," The Australian, August 27, 1996, p. 6.
23. "Six Barred from Supreme Council Race," NST, October 8, 1996, p. 1.
24. Anwar's address before the UMNO Youth and Wanita is recorded in the NST, October 10, 1996, pp. 12 and 14.
25. "Hulur salah, tak hulur kalah," The Star, October 10, 1996, p. 7.
26. "I Deserve to Win, Says Zahid," The Star, October 10, 1996, p. 7.
27. "Rafidah: I'm Puzzled by Zaharah's Win," The Star, October 10, 1996, p. 3.
28. An exception was perhaps the election of Hishamsuddin Hussein, son of the late prime minister, Tun Hussein Onn, as deputy president of the UMNO Youth. Attempts were reportedly made by Anwar's forces to block him.
29. An English-language transcription of Mahathir's speech is recorded in the NST, October 11, 1996, pp. 14, 16-17, though this "official" version does not contain many of Mahathir's remarks.
30. Mahathir stated in his presidential address: "While no contests for the posts of deputy president and president may slightly taint the party democracy, nevertheless, this would ensure the party's well-being. Remember, democracy is for the good of the party, and the party does not exist to prove democracy is great. Democracy without a strong party is meaningless." NST, October 11, 1996, p. 16.
31. A non-Malay academic at the University of Malaya, observing the decline of ethnic sentiments voiced at UMNO general assemblies, acknowledged that "we have Mahathir to thank for that" (Discussion, November 1995).
32. The delegate dared briefly to suggest too that the UMNO should "take over" the Ministry of Housing and Local Government, long a portfolio held by the Malaysian Chinese Association. See "Start Cleansing from the Top, Urges Delegate," NST, October 11, 1996, p. 4.
33. "Arau Wanita Chief: Set Eligibility Criterion," NST, October 11, 1996, p. 4.
34. "Mahathir's Plea Swings Election from His Rivals," Asian Wall Street Journal, October 11-12, 1996, pp. 1-2. See also "Dr. M Makes Another Plea to Reject Corrupt Leaders," NST, October 11, 1996, pp. 1-2.
35. "Mahathir's Plea Swings Election from His Rivals," Asian Wall Street Journal, October 11-12, 1996, pp. 1-2. See also "Dr. M Makes Another Plea to Reject Corrupt Leaders," NST, October 11, 1996, pp. 1-2.
36. "Pak Lah Returns: 'Mr. Clean' Bounces Back as UMNO Vice-President," The Star, October 11, 1996, p. 6.
37. "PM: Results Indicate Some Change," NST, October 11, 1996, p. 2.
38. When asked at a press conference why some leading Malay business people had not been elected to the Supreme Council, Mahathir replied: "I don't know. We did not say that corporate figures could not be accepted. What is important is that they do not use means which are prohibited in order to win." NST, October 12, 1996, p. 1. For good analyses, see Ian Stewart, "Mahathir Onslaught Rattles Malaysia Inc.," The Australian, October 15, 1996, p. 24; and "UMNO's 'Corporatisation' Ends," The Star, October 12, 1996, p. 4.
39. When asked at a press conference why some leading Malay business people had not been elected to the Supreme Council, Mahathir replied: "I don't know. We did not say that corporate figures could not be accepted. What is important is that they do not use means which are prohibited in order to win." NST, October 12, 1996, p. 1. For good analyses, see Ian Stewart, "Mahathir Onslaught Rattles Malaysia Inc.," The Australian, October 15, 1996, p. 24; and "UMNO's 'Corporatisation' Ends," The Star, October 12, 1996, p. 4.
40. When asked at a press conference why some leading Malay business people had not been elected to the Supreme Council, Mahathir replied: "I don't know. We did not say that corporate figures could not be accepted. What is important is that they do not use means which are prohibited in order to win." NST, October 12, 1996, p. 1. For good analyses, see Ian Stewart, "Mahathir Onslaught Rattles Malaysia Inc.," The Australian, October 15, 1996, p. 24; and "UMNO's 'Corporatisation' Ends," The Star, October 12, 1996, p. 4.
41. See "Gravy Train of Share Allocations: Minister Under Investigation," Aliran Monthly, vol. 14, no. 12 (1994), pp. 2-5.
42. Presidential address, NST, October 11, 1996, p. 16. See also A. Ghani Ismail, "How UMNO Can Bring a Silver Lining Back to the Party," Sun, October 11, 1996, p. 29. He writes that "many [delegates] appeared dazed as a result of the leadership's hard line against the party's culture of corruption."
43. Presidential address, NST, October 11, 1996, p. 16. See also A. Ghani Ismail, "How UMNO Can Bring a Silver Lining Back to the Party," Sun, October 11, 1996, p. 29. He writes that "many [delegates] appeared dazed as a result of the leadership's hard line against the party's culture of corruption."
44. Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Pawanteh (Discussion, October 10, 1996, Putra World Trade Center). The seminal notion of "group worth" was developed by Donald Horowitz, Ethnic Groups in Conflict (Berkeley: University of California, 1985).
45. Indeed, as Ghafar Baba dryly noted, "the president's address against corruption as a way to win votes is very timely." The Star, October 11, 1996, p. 4.
46. Bohsia is a Hokkien word that translates literally as "silent." It is used currently in Kuala Lumpur to refer to young women who wander about idly, accepting motorcycle rides in return for sexual favors.
47. See "PM Unhappy with Cash Hungry Landowners," NST, October 13, 1996, p. 2.
48. Jesudason, "Syncretic State," pp. 155-58.