Travelling a few days in Kuching before the GE14 would not have prepared anyone for the “shocker” that was to happen in Sarawak. Barisan Nasional (BN) colours (and its coalition parties, notably Sarawak United Peoples’ Party or SUPP) were flying high in Bandar Kuching and Stampin areas, interspersed by a smaller showing of Democratic Action Party (DAP) flags. In Petra Jaya and, especially in Mas Gading, the blue hues of the BN were even stronger making up 75 percent of all banners. It was expected that the Pakatan Harapan (PH) components of DAP and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) would only win in their stronghold areas and that the role of Sarawak as a safe deposit state would be stronger than before.
2018/57 11 May 2018
2018/55, 10 May 2018
Malaysians have decided, and Pakatan Harapan (PH) will form the new government. This is the BN’s and UMNO’s first defeat since the country’s independence. Many would attribute PH’s victory to a Malay “tsunami”—the Malay voters’, particularly from those from the rural areas, change of allegiance from BN to PH. But this does not explain the PAS victories in Kelantan and Terengganu, both Malay dominant and rural states. In Kelantan, PAS increased its state legislative assembly seats (SLA), and completely wiped out PH. It took 37 out of the 45 state seats, with BN winning only 8. At the parliament level, PAS won 9 of the 14 seats.
“The Future of China’s Investment in Malaysia under Mahathir” by Tham Siew Yean
The return of former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad as Malaysia’s seventh Prime Minister on 10 May 2018 is construed by many to have a negative impact on China’s investment in Malaysia, as he had called for a greater scrutiny of these investments on the campaign trail. The critical questions now are: the extent to which his campaign pledge will be translated into actions; and will these mean a reversal of previous commitments and a halt to future investments from China.