Malaysian parliament gets physical, democracy in peril

New rifts in Malaysia’s political system were exposed this week, three months after Malaysia’s opposition party lost its majority standing in Perak state to the National Front coalition. Parliament recommenced for the first time since the staged take-over, with the former speaker of assembly physically removed from the building by plain-clothes police. At least a dozen anti-government protestors calling for new elections were also arrested. The country’s March 2008 elections marked the first time since 1957 that the ruling UMNO lost two-thirds majority, and until the take-over, the state of Perak was among five Malaysian states where the opposition had won a majority in the elections. Political tension has been brewing in Malaysia for some time now, with increasing numbers of Malaysians discontent with ruling United Malays National Organization, and their coalition hold on political power. Deep divides in Malaysia’s political system are based on race, and outsiders argue that Malaysia’s economic competitiveness is held back by an often corrupt system that favors ethnic Malays. It doesn’t seem likely that current Prime Minister Najib Razak, who many believe to be behind the Perak take-over, will make the necessary reforms any time soon.

Q+A What does the Malaysian standoff in Perak mean?, Reuters
Political struggle in Malaysia heats up, The New York Times
Dozens held at Malaysian protest, BBC News