Malaysia: A Troubled Legacy

Abstract

The year began on a sad note for Malaysia with the untimely death on 14 January 1976 of its Prime Minister, Tun Abdul Razak, 54. His passing thrust into the political limelight his Deputy and brother-in-law, Datuk Hussein Or?n, as the country's highest office-holder, but also left him with the legacy of a government faced with political and economic problems and a party characterized by internal dissension and infighting. The new Premier, whom many have initially looked upon as a transitional leader, proved himself in the circumstances more decisive than his predecessor. In his handling of party matters and certain national issues, such as the problem of corruption in high government places, he took a strong stand, where the late Tun appeared to have dawdled. While, in the aftermath of Tun Razak's death, Datuk Hussein has had the support of the ruling coalition Barisan Nasional (National Front), within his own party his handicap is he is a relative newcomer. Having only reentered United Malays' National Organization (UMNO) politics in 1969, he cannot lay claim to widespread grassroots support as some of the UMNO veterans can. In building up his support among the various state divisions, much will depend on his ability to satisfy the different pulls within the party. Throughout 1976, the fight against communist insurgents and poverty remained top priorities with the Hussein Government but with the promise of a more forceful and pragmatic approach to the situation. On the economic front there have been exhortations to make the Third Malaysia Plan (TMP) a success with indications of a shift from the basically pro-?wmz/?i?rra-stance of the Second Malaysia Plan (SMP). To allay the fears and uncertainties of both local and foreign businessmen, there had been some backtracking from certain nationalistic economic regulations. In foreign affairs, Malaysia followed the neutrality groove laid down by the late Tun Razak, retaining its initiative in pushing for the acceptance of a zone of peace and neutrality m Southeast Asia.