Abstract
Malaysian politic has been overwhelmingly dominated by the ruling
Barisan Nasional coalition since 1969. In the 12th Malaysian General
Election, the ruling coalition suffered a shocking moral defeat. This paper
argue that the 12th Malaysian General Election is metaphorically a
political volcano eruption, witnessing the rise of People Power against
suppression of dissatisfactions over communal politics, deteriorating
social-economic conditions (dubbed the “3Cs” factors) and continues
marginalization of Indian community in Malaysia. Aspects of communal politics
include (1) the issues of NEP, Ketuanan Melayu, racism and “second-class
citizen” treatment to the Malaysian non-bumiputera, and (2) the issues of
UMNO-putra politicizing the NEP and Malay poverty. The “3Cs” refers to
dissatisfaction over increasing (1) cost of living, (2) crime and (3)
corruption, taking the first letter of each to form the acronym. Meanwhile, the
revolution by the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) highlighted the
marginalization of Indian. Indeed, the Hindraf revolution popularized the
Makkal Sakhti that means “People Power” in Tamil.
For full article in Journal of Politics and Law. Vol. 1(3): 84 – 101, see
