The small secession movement in Sabah and Sarawak has been getting louder over the past 9 months. This is the case, even with an East Malaysian deputy prime minister in the federal government, and the recent constitutional amendments proclaiming Sabah and Sarawak as regions and not states. The perception of peninsula politics under the leadership … More The growing momentum for secession in Sabah and Sarawak – Are Sabah and Sarawak colonies of Malaya? By Murray Hunter

Parti Keadilan’s share of the aggregate vote at general elections has been in decline since the 2013 general election, where the party gained 20.39 percent of the aggregate vote. During the 2022 general election PKR won only 15.74 percent of the aggregate vote. The ailing UMNO gained 100,000 more votes than PKR, obtaining 16.43 percent … More The slow death of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Malaysia by Murray Hunter

For 25 years, the people believed Anwar Ibrahim would bring reforms to Malaysia. Pakatan Harapan came to power with a pledge to focus upon the economy. Now Malaysians are looking at a situation, where non-Malays perceive they have no meaningful place. After nearly 18 months in office, Prime minister Anwar appears to be continuing the … More A tale of two leaders – Anwar Ibrahim and Javier Milei by Murray Hunter

Amongst the advantages of an East Malaysian-led or influenced government is its potential to reject pressure from racial and religious extremism. Unlike the Peninsula, Sabah and Sarawak have historically been more tolerant and diverse in their religious and secular practices. By promoting inclusivity and pluralism, an East Malaysian bloc can mitigate the influence of extremist … More How East Malaysia Can Lead in Political Transformation by Carolyn Khor, Murray Hunter and Lim Teck Ghee

Two recent news items reveal the enormity of the policy challenges that the country faces in dealing with not only domestic issues but also in keeping up with a rapidly transforming region and world.  The first is the disclosure by PMX of our education. According to Anwar, “If we look at the bare facts, some … More Policy Transformation: A Truly Malaysian Leadership and Ideology Is Needed by Murray Hunter, Lim Teck Ghee and Carolyn Khor

Governments do change in Malaysia. Each incoming administration will have its own narratives and specific agendas. However, policies will be generally very similar, and based upon the same principles as the previous government. In and around the executive and administrative government is a network of elite people, who collectively yield massive power. The actors can … More Politicians come and go, but the elite are permanent in Malaysia Too powerful to overcome by Murray Hunter