CHAPTER 2

Power Sharing in Malaysian Politics

This chapter explains how power sharing is important in Malaysian politics.

By the end of this chapter, students should be able to:

The term was created by J. S. Furnivall in 1939. A plural society has different social groups that live together but do not mix politically.
It shows a community where various groups exist, usually with differences in ethnicity, language, and culture.

In Western countries, pluralism comes from people doing different jobs, creating a complicated social structure with shared loyalties.
In Malaysia, communities are mostly separate and do not have the job-related diversity found in the West.

Every political issue creates different political situations, and community loyalties can create conflicts.
Shared loyalties can reduce political disputes and lead to changes in voter loyalty.

Conflictual Behavior: Separate communities may show conflict, with the political system maintained by force rather than agreement, often influenced by colonial history.
Cultural Separation: Each ethnic group has its own culture and language, often interacting only within its own community, leading to divisions in politics, economics, and education.
Limited Interaction: The marketplace is often the only place where different communities come into contact.

Known as Ethnic Accommodation or Consociational Democracy, this concept was introduced by Arend Lijphart in 1969.
It requires cooperation among leaders from different communities to manage ethnic competition and keep peace.

Malaysia has strong internal divisions by ethnicity, with no one group large enough to dominate. This creates a need for cooperation among community leaders.

Ethnic communities are isolated.
There is a balance of power among groups.
Shared external threats unite communities.
Groups have common loyalties to the state.
History of cooperation among leaders.
Socioeconomic fairness across society.
Smaller population reduces political pressure.
A moderate multi-party system focusing on community rather than national interests.

Grand Coalition: Leaders from each ethnic group govern together, knowing cooperation is essential for stability.
Mutual Veto: Groups need consensus on major decisions, allowing minorities to block majority actions to protect their interests.
Proportional Representation: Political power and resources are divided based on the size of each community.
Segmental Autonomy: Gives communities their own specific laws.

The social contract is a political theory explaining how governments begin and work. It is based on an agreement among free people to create political authority.
The meaning of social contract can vary and is not limited to one theory.
Generally, it means that people agree to be governed in exchange for certain protections.

This idea challenges the belief in divine right monarchies, emphasizing that government requires the consent of the people.
Thinkers like Locke argued for the protection of natural rights, while Rousseau insisted that leaders should represent the people's will. Their ideas helped promote democratic governance.

Define four views on plural society.
Identify four important features of plural society according to J. S. Furnivall.
Discuss four conditions that support consociationalism.
Explore Social Contract Theory as described by Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau.