In this analysis, Dr. Meredith L. Weiss, Research Fellow at the East-West Center in Washington, recaps the March 8, 2008, Malaysian general elections, and analyzes how the once-dominant National Front coalition managed to lose its parliamentary majority. With the redistribution of power in the recent election, Weiss suggests that the surging opposition will now have a chance to put ideas into practice, and forge a workable coalition that can clean up state policies.

The views expressed in this publication are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of the East-West Center or any organization with which the author is affiliated.