Abstract
Malaysia has not invited International Election Monitoring Organisations (IEMOs) for any of its general elections (GEs) since 1990 and so is numbered among those states that defy this international norm. Although the elections under the Barisan Nasional (BN) regime displayed a wide variety of manipulative practices, the BN was able, due to its position as a semi-authoritarian nature, its strategic importance and its lack of dependence on foreign aid, to successfully resist demands for the presence of IEMOs. The prospects for IEMOs has been further reduced, since the GE 2013, by the Election Commission’s “election visit programme” (EVP), adopted to compensate for the absence of IEMOs. Following Malaysia’s historic GE 2018, a widespread consensus has developed that though Malaysia should not abandon its own EVP programme, it should readopt this international norm by inviting IEMOs. This is especially needed considering the amateurish state of domestic election monitoring in Malaysia.
Highlights
In May 2018, the Barisan Nasional (BN) regime led by the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) collapsed after a long period of sixty-one years of power in Malaysia
Though it is not within the scope of this article to analyse the Domestic Election Monitoring Organisations (DEMOs) in Malaysia, a brief explanation of these DEMOs will serve well to help in understanding the prospects of International Election Monitoring Organisations (IEMOs) in Malaysia
The BERSIH has speculated that the unfavourable Commonwealth Observers Group (COG) report on the general elections (GEs) 1990 was the main reason why the government decided not to reissue the invitation to IEMOs (BERSIH, 2011: 56) and in analysing this it should be noted that the GE 1990 was held after a series of major crises involving the incumbent: the 1987 UMNO election which saw Mahathir’s slim victory; the breakup of the UMNO and the establishment of a splinter party, Semangat 46; the mass arrests of politicians and activists in Operasi Lalang in 1987; and the 1988 Judicial Crisis (Wan Ahmad Wan Omar, 2018: interview)
Summary
In May 2018, the Barisan Nasional (BN) regime led by the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) collapsed after a long period of sixty-one years of power in Malaysia. In contrast to other states in the region like South Korea, the Philippines, and Indonesia, which experienced violent regime change, Malaysia relied solely on the ballot box to oust the BN from power and replace it with Pakatan Harapan (PH), a new opposition alliance established and led by the former Prime Minister, Mahathir Mohamad (1981–2003). This development came as a shock to many who considered the prospect of a power transition in Malaysia to be slim. This article analyses a much-n eglected aspect of Malaysian electoral studies, election observation, with a particular focus on the role and status of International Election Monitoring Organisations (IEMOs). This article derives its theoretical and conceptual ground from secondary sources but is further bolstered by interviews with twenty-two informants: three former top members of the management of the EC, one high-ranking EC officer, one former cabinet minister, as well as activists involved in election observation missions in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and the Philippines
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
