Delimitation, communal representation and electoral outcomes in Malaysia : parliamentary elections, 1958-2004 /
The purpose of this study is to analyse the reasons for, and the impact of, delimitation exercises on parliamentary elections in Malaysia. Although there is no lack of studies on elections in Malaysia, none has studied the linkage between delimitation, electoral outcomes and communal representation...
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| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Gombak, Selangor :
Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences, International Islamic University Malaysia,
2006
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://studentrepo.iium.edu.my/handle/123456789/6374 |
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| Summary: | The purpose of this study is to analyse the reasons for, and the impact of,
delimitation exercises on parliamentary elections in Malaysia. Although there is no
lack of studies on elections in Malaysia, none has studied the linkage between
delimitation, electoral outcomes and communal representation on a national scale.
This study uses data from official government—especially Election Commission
(EC)—and media reports on delimitation and parliamentary elections. It analyses the
delimitation exercises and their consequences on ethnic composition in the
parliamentary constituencies. Then, it analyses the electoral outcomes in the years
immediately following the delimitation exercises and compare them with the ones
before such exercises in order to gauge the benefits of delimitation accrued by
political parties. It also analyses electoral outcomes in the different categories of
constituencies in order to relate communal representation with political parties and
ethnicity of winning candidates. The study finds that:
• The delimitation exercises had indeed changed ethnic composition of
parliamentary constituencies, whereby the 1958 delimitation exercise had
created more Chinese-majority constituencies than the pre-independence 1954
delimitation exercise, while the ensuing delimitation exercises in 1974, 1984,
1994 and 2003 had created and maintained more Malay-majority
constituencies.
• The delimitation exercise did not always benefit Barisan Nasional (BN), as
suggested by other studies, because an analysis into electoral outcomes in
1959 and 1986 showed lesser percentage of representation to BN.
• In terms of communal representation, while BN can win in different categories
of constituencies (overwhelming, moderate ethnic-majority or mixed), it is
weak in overwhelming Chinese-majority constituencies.
• BN’s victory can be explained not in terms of its perceived strength in Malay,
Chinese, Malay Bumiputera or non-Malay Bumiputera constituencies, but
because it is very predominant in the mixed constituencies.
• While ethnicity is a major factor for elections in overwhelming and moderate
ethnic-majority constituencies, it became a less important factor in mixed
constituencies where candidates from different ethnic groups can be elected.
This study challenges the generalisation made by other scholars that the delimitation
exercises only benefit the Malay ethnic group and BN. On the contrary, this study
shows that in different elections, lesser percentage of Malays and BN candidates were
elected. |
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| Item Description: | Abstracts in English and Arabic. 'A dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy'--On t.p. |
| Physical Description: | xviii, 270 leaves ; 30 cm. Also available on 4 3/4 in. computer laser optical disc. |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references (leaves 253--261). |
| Access: | Access for fulltext of thesis is provided through digital format. |