Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
BN on the Ropes
Released from jail in 2004, Anwar returned to national politics in August 2008 upon win-
ning the by-election for the seat vacated by his wife. This was despite sodomy charges
again being laid against the politician in June and his subsequent arrest in July.
In the March 2008 election, UMNO and its coalition partners in Barisan Nasional (BN)
saw their parliamentary dominance slashed to less than the customary two-thirds majority.
Pakatan Rakyat (PR), the opposition People's Alliance, led by Anwar Ibrahim, not only
bagged 82 of parliament's 222 seats but also took control of four out of Malaysia's 13
states, including the key economic bases of Selangor and Penang. PR subsequently lost
Perak following a complex powerplay between various defecting MPs.
Since December 2011 Malaysia's king, who is also is the head of state and leader of the Islamic faith, has
been the Sultan Abdul Halim of Kedah. This is the second time the octogenarian has held the position, the
first being from 1970 to 1975.
Abdullah Badawi resigned in favour of his urbane deputy, Mohd Najib bin Tun Abdul
Razak (typically referred to as Najib Razak), in April 2008. Son of Abdul Razak, Malay-
sia's second prime minister after independence, and nephew of Razak's successor, Hussein
Onn, Najib has been groomed for this role ever since he first entered national politics at the
age of 23 in 1976.
MALAYSIA'S GOVERNMENT
Malaysia is made up of 13 states and three federal territories (Kuala Lumpur, Pulau Labuan and Putrajaya). Each
state has an assembly and government headed by a
menteri besar
(chief minister). Nine states have hereditary
rulers (sultans), while the remaining four have government-appointed governors, as do the federal territories. In a
pre-established order, every five years one of the sultans takes his turn in the ceremonial position of Yang di-Pertu-
an Agong (king).
Malaysia's current prime minister is Najib Tun Razak, who heads up the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition of the
United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) and 13 other parties. The official opposition, Pakatan Rakyat (PR),
is a coalition between Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), the Democratic Action Party (DAP) and Parti Islam Se-Malay-
sia (PAS), the leader being Anwar Ibrahim. All sit in a two-house parliament: a 70-member Senate (
Dewan
Negara;
26 members elected by the 13 state assemblies, 44 appointed by the king on the prime minister's recom-
mendation) and a 222-member House of Representatives (
Dewan Rakyat;
elected from single-member districts).
National and state elections are held every five years.
