Political Stability and Sustainability as Key Success Factors in Developing Malaysia: Perdana Discourse Series, #4

By Perdana Leadership Foundation and Universiti Teknologi MARA

Before Malaya's independence in 1957, the British segregated the Malays from the non-Malays for the British administration's own political and economic benefits, the outcome of which was a lack of inter-ethnic interaction and harmony. The communities were driven further apart by ethnic-specific economic activities (in broad terms, the Chinese in business, the Malays in agriculture, and the Indians in the rubber estates), religion, culture, political affiliation (in the pre-independence and early post-independence years, the Chinese and Indians had closer political affinities to their homelands than to Malaya), and income levels.

All these were ingredients for ethnic violence and unrest. Yet, Malaya, then Malaysia, has remained stable and peaceful, and has managed to prosper over the years. What were the policies that have enabled Malaysia to achieve political stability?

This was the focus of the fourth Perdana Discourse Series. In this monograph are transcripts of the keynote address of the fourth Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, who explains thow multi-ethnic Malaysia achieved political stability through affirmative action. His speech is followed by presentations by former Transport Minister, Tun Dr. Ling Liiong Sik, academician Professor Dr. Faridah Hassan, youth political representative Ms Ismalina Ismail, and youth representative Mr. Logandran Balavijendran. Summaries of the findings of the student breakout sessions are also included. The Perdana Discourse Series was jointly organised by Perdana Leadership Foundation, an independent research and archive institution dedicated to Malaysia's Prime Ministers, and Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), the biggest public university in Malaysia. 

This 80-page monograph is a useful reference and introduction to Malaysia's race-based affirmative action policies.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Perdana Leadership Foundation
• Release date: Sep 26, 2017
• ISBN: 9781386251477

Perdana Leadership Foundation

Perdana Leadership Foundation was chartered in January 2003 as a non-profit organisation, founded with gifts from people who supported the vision of a thriving research and learning institution dedicated to the study of Malaysian leadership and nation-building. It is unique in the sense that it began as an entirely private sector initiative, seed-funded and organised by private sector individuals and corporations. Most of the Foundation’s present trustees were the early benefactors of this Foundation. The Foundation’s physical home in Precinct 8, Putrajaya, was completed in October 2003. The stately building now houses the Perdana Library, an auditorium as well as a multi-purpose hall in addition to the offices of the Foundation’s Honorary President and Malaysia's fourth Prime Minister, YABhg Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad. A tax-exempt, non-profit organisation, the Foundation intends to become the premier institution for the study of Malaysia’s Prime Ministers and the central resource centre for research into national stewardship as well as a platform for reflection, debate, and discussion with distinguished figures in Malaysian leadership. On May 10, 2005, the Foundation was officially launched by the fifth Prime Minister, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. who expressed the government's full support for the Foundation's objectives and programmes Perdana Leadership Foundation aims to: Highlight the contribution of Malaysia's past Prime Ministers in the social, economic and political development of the nation Create awareness of the development process of the nation and draw lessons from the nation's history to enhance future development Become the premier resource centre for the policies, strategies and initiatives adopted under Malaysia's various Prime Ministers which may be used and adapted by other developing nations The Foundation also has a broader objective i.e. to promote global understanding by providing a channel for scholars and thinkers to undertake research and idea-sharing for lasting, peaceful resolutions

Book preview

Political Stability and Sustainability as Key Success Factors in Developing Malaysia

Political Stability and Sustainability as Key Success Factors in Developing Malaysia

Perdana Discourse Series 4

Perdana Leadership Foundation

Universiti Teknologi MARA

Perdana Leadership Foundation

This digital edition has been revised, and is published by Perdana Leadership Foundation, N0.1, Jalan P8H, Precinct 8, 62250 Putrajaya, Malaysia

www.perdana.org.my

---

©2017 Perdana Leadership Foundation & Institute of Quality & Knowledge Advancement, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM)

---

First edition 2006

Revised digital edition 2017

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, copied, stored in any retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, without prior permission in writing from Perdana Leadership Foundation. The views expressed in this publication are strictly that of the speakers, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher and organisers.

Editors (First edition): Masturah Alias, Sharifah Shahnaz Syed Husain, Juridah Atin, Zarina Abu Bakar

Editor (Digital edition): Zarina Abu Bakar

Transcribers: Shahriza Fadly Misaridin, Maswira Mahyiddin, Mariatul Qibtiah Isa

---

Perdana Discourse Series: Political Stability & Sustainability as Key Success Factors in Developing Malaysia

Contents

Introduction to the Perdana Discourse Series

Preface

Acknowledgements

Books in the Series

Prologue

1. Keynote Address by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad

2. Panel Discussant: Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik

3. Panel Discussant: Professor Dr Faridah Hassan

4. Panel Discussant: Ms Ismalina Ismail

5. Panel Discussant: Mr Logandran Balavijendran

6. Summary of Keynote Address & Panel Discussion

7. Notes of Group Discussion

Appendix I: Profiles of Keynote Speaker and Panel Discussants

Appendix II: Profiles of Malaysia’s Past Prime Ministers

Appendix III: Participants of Group Discussions

About Perdana Leadership Foundation

Forthcoming: Perdana Discourse Series 5

Introduction to the Perdana Discourse Series

The Perdana Discourse Series is a series of talks and discussions on issues of concern to Malaysians, where the objective is to facilitate dialogue and experience-sharing between experienced Malaysian leaders (whether in office or retired) and university students.

A total of twenty discourses have been held from 2004 to 2016, featuring notable speakers such as the Fourth Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad; the former Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin; the former Auditor-General of Malaysia, Tan Sri Ambrin Buang; and former Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Tan Sri Abdul Wahid Omar.

The first discourse took place in August, 2004, at the Auditorium of Perdana Leadership Foundation in Putrajaya, Malaysia. The keynote address was followed by a panel session, and earlier discourses featured group breakout sessions among the participants.

The Perdana Discourse Series was wholly sponsored by the Malaysian car company, PROTON.

Political Stability & Sustainability as Key Success Factors in Developing Malaysia was the theme for the fourth Perdana Discourse Series that took place in Putrajaya, Malaysia, on 12th April 2006.

Preface

Political Stability & Sustainability was the theme for the fourth Perdana Discourse Series. The discourse was an interactive platform where participants had the opportunity to share and discuss issues relating to policies, strategies, and possible models and achievements accomplished during the tenure of Malaysia's previous Prime Ministers. Participants comprised of university students, academicians, senior civil servants and members of various youth associations.

The discourse started with a keynote address by Tun Dr Mahathir sharing his thoughts and ideas on the topic. This was preceded by a moderated discussion session chaired by UiTM's Assistant Vice Chancellor, Associate Prof. Dr Mustaffa Mohamed Zain. The discussants were Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik (former Transport Minister of Malaysia and former President of the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA)), Professor Dr Hajjah Faridah Hj. Hassan (Director of Centre for Business