Democracy in Malaysia: Prospects and Possibilities

After a period of turmoil, Malaysia’s new Prime Minister, Ismail Sabri Yaakob, has a tenuous hold on leadership. A politician of the UMNO (United Malays National Organisation) coalition, his party returns to power a few short years after their first ever electoral defeat when former Prime Minister Najib Razak was tied to the 1MDB scandal involving RM 2.67 billion (close to $900m AUD) in missing funds. Ismail now holds a slim majority in parliament and is seen by many as a compromise leader for parties and factions desperate to hold off high profile opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim. While Malaysia faces recovery from a devastating pandemic and the economic fallout from a lengthy lockdown, even more challenges come from within - managing a tenuous coalition whose support is crucial to government stability. What are these political developments likely to mean for Malaysia’s long term democratic prospects? Panel: - Dr Amrita Malhi (Visiting Fellow, Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs, Australian National University) - Professor James Chin (Asian Studies, University of Tasmania) - Associate Professor Kerstin Steiner (Director of Research, La Trobe Law School, La Trobe University) - Dr Bec Strating (Executive Director, La Trobe Asia)(Chair) Recorded on 18 November 2021.