Malaysia’ 14th General Election: End of an epoch, and beginning of a new?

Abstract

The 14th general election in Malaysia held on May 9, 2018 is an
historic event that altered the political landscape of the nation. For the first
time over sixty years this election has caused to change the government from
Barisan Nasional (national front) coalition to another coalition named Pakatan
Harapan (Coalition of Hope), formed in 2015. This article has analysed the
election results and the probable factors that might have contributed to the
historic change. It argued that since 1999 the ruling Malay elites have become
permanently divided challenging the dominance of United Malay National
Organisation (UMNO) in politics and the prospect for a viable alternative
became consolidated with the rise of Parti KeAdilan Rakyat (PKR) offering
an avenue for a new generation politics. The return of Mahathir Mohamad to
politics and a strategic coalition mainly between his party and PKR, party of
the jailed leader Anwar Ibrahim, made an alternative to BN/UMNO a reality
through winning the election.