Malaysia's Electoral Process: The Methods and Costs of Perpetuating UMNO Rule
30 Pages Posted: 6 Oct 2017 Last revised: 23 Nov 2017
Date Written: 2017
Abstract
Malaysia’s electoral process is among the most extensively manipulated in the world. In nearly every aspect, the process is biased towards the dominant UMNO-led coalition and towards the narrow segment of the electorate from which UMNO draws much of its electoral support. This has had the effect of entrenching single-party dominance. It has also imposed a wide range of social, political, and economic costs on Malaysia. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the electoral manipulations in Malaysia and the costs they impose. Given the extensive electoral manipulations despite Malaysia's developmental success and relative social stability, the country is an important case for efforts to better understand the methods and costs of electoral malpractice.
Keywords: Elections, Electoral Malpractice, Electoral Integrity, UMNO, Malaysia
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