Asian_Geographic_Issue_4_2017

(John Hannent) #1
While both countries
declare themselves
democracies, they
remain targets of
media criticism for
autocratic practices

1954 People’s Action Party (PAP) formed

1957 The 11 states comprising the
Federation of Malaysia gain independence
from the British

1959 The PAP wins a mandate to form the
government, winning 42 of the 51 seats

1963 Singapore reclaims independence
from the British and becomes a state in the
Federation of Malaysia

1965 Singapore is expelled from the
Federation of Malaysia. Secretary-general
of the PAP, Lee Kuan Yew, becomes the
first prime minister

1967 Singapore and Malaysia are among
the founding members of ASEAN

1969 Malaysia’s Alliance Party loses
seats to the opposition. Prime minister
Tengku Abdul Rahman resigns

1970 The Monetary Authority of
Singapore (MAS) is established;
Malaysia’s New Economic Policy is created

1973 Barisan Nasional is formed, a
coalition of 14 political parties from the
right and centre

1984 First two opposition members elected
to parliament in Singapore

1990 Lee Kuan Yew steps down as prime
minister, and Goh Chok Tong succeeds him

1995 Barisan Nasional wins the general
election with an 84-percent majority

1999 S R Nathan becomes the president of
Singapore without election

2005 Singapore and Malaysia settle land
reclamation dispute in border waters

2008 Barisan Nasional coalition remains
the ruling party with 140 seats. Opposition
parties later form the Pakatan Rakyat
coalition with 82 seats. BN loses two-thirds
majority required to pass amendments in
Federal Constitution

2011 General elections in Singapore.
The opposition wins about 40 percent of
votes. Rattled, the PAP launches a string of
campaigns to humanise their policies

2016 Anti-government protests in Kuala
Lumpur call for the resignation of Najib
after financial scandal; Najib remains
prime minister

Tw O ROadS dIvERgEd
Both countries have struggled with
managing their respective multiethnic
demographics, but their disparate
approaches were a significant source
of conflict during the merger months.
The delicate balance of ethnic Malay
and Chinese interests continues to
be a sensitive topic, with Malaysian
nationalism imbued in the Bumiputera
policy of positive discrimination –
particularly in the face of Singapore’s
ethnic Chinese majority.
Today, Malaysia has diversified
its production-based economy. Under
the Najib administration, the state is
working towards growing domestic
markets. A sophisticated regulatory
regime shields the country from
financial risk and global crises, but
vulnerability in the ever-important
export sector remains, especially
in electronics, oil, gas, palm oil and
rubber. Najib’s propositions to reduce
the preferential treatment afforded to
ethnic Malays were predictably met
with domestic opposition, despite their
potential to attract foreign investors.

Unlike Malaysia, Singapore has
little to offer in the way of natural
resources, but has instead drawn her
economy from its strategic position as
a port. While also largely dependent
on exports, the country specialises
in consumer electronics, information
technology, pharmaceuticals and
financial services. Led by Prime
Minister Lee Hsien Loong, efforts to
reverse a recent growth slump are
underway, with projects in place to train
locals for positions currently filled by
foreigners. Singapore maintains her
status as the financial and high-tech
hub of Southeast Asia, attractive to
investors owing to political stability and
apparent low levels of corruption. ag

People’s Action Party Barisan Nasionalis
Barisan Nasionalis is the longest-ruling
coalition in the democratic world. Headed
by UMNO, the BN has championed many
notable national schemes, including the
Bumiputera policies that favour ethnic
Malays in education, business, and other
aspects of Malaysian society. Other
contenders in Malaysia include Pakatan
Harapan (“Coalition of Hope”), the
People’s Justice Party, the Pan-Malaysian
Islamic Party, and other small parties.

The PAP has remained Singapore’s ruling
party since 1965. While seen as efficient
and development-focused, the party has
been criticised for its non-populist policies
and technocratic approach to development.
The PAP is working hard to alter this image,
particularly following losses in the 2011
general elections. The PAP was re-elected
with a 70-percent majority in 2015. Other
contenders include the Workers’ Party and
the Singapore Democratic Party.

ThE PaRTIES

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