Transforming Malaysia
Dominant and Competing Paradigms

Anthony Milner (Edited by), Abdul Rahman Embong (Edited by), Tham Siew Yean (Edited by)

9789814517911

Paperback / softback, published 30 March 2014

300 pages
22.8 x 15.2 x 1.3 cm, 0.456 kg

In the wake of Malaysia’s 13th General Election some commentators speak of a sharpening of ethnic politics — with Prime Minister Najib blaming a “Chinese tsunami” for his government’s polling setbacks; others are optimistic about the arrival of a new “non-racialized form of politics” and the emergence of “transethnic solidarity”. This book, which engages with both the race paradigm and its opponents, warns that change is likely to come slowly — but is not impossible. Malaysia’s race paradigm is a man-made ideological construct — one that has been contested in the past, and could realistically be contested in the future. In confronting the continuing challenge of globalization, Malaysians should not neglect the history of ideas — and ideology — as they search for new options.