Effects of General Election-14 on the Social Well-Being of the People of Malay Race in Malaysia

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The 14th General Election (GE-14) which was held on May 9, 2018, had surprising results that changed the political climate of the country. The alliance Pakatan Harapan, which adopts the PKR logo and includes the Parti Warisan Sabah, beat the Parti Barisan Nasional (BN) and won 122 seats in parliament. The remaining 79 parliamentary seats were won by BN, and the 18 seats gained by PAS, which opted to run unopposed, were won by BN. After the 14th General Election, disagreements arose about the Sultan's authority, the specific rights of the Malays, Islam's status as the Federation of Malaysia's official religion, and the Malay language's status as its official language. This change is particularly noticeable among journalists of Malay ancestry who have reported the issue to the police more frequently than before following the 14th GE. The social well-being of the Malay community is seen as being threatened by this issue. This article investigates the social well-being of the Malay community in the wake of the 14th GE. It employed both document analysis and interviews to collect data for a qualitative investigation. The data prior to and following the 14th GE were examined using comparative analysis. The study’s findings show that following the 14th General Election, the harmony between the Malay community and other race groups has encountered disruptions. This disruption stems from the actions of non-Malay individuals who frequently challenged the privileged status of Malays and engaged in derogatory remarks about the Sultan and the Islamic faith. As a result, any governing party must align with the sentiments of the Malay community and refrain from disregarding their emotions and the delicate subjects that concern them. This stance is crucial to ensure the security and enduring well-being of the Malay community, who are the indigenous people of Malaysia.