PENANG, Malaysia – After an unprecedented election in which the United Malays National Organization [UMNO] went from a 91 percent majority to 63 percent majority, several hundred Malays protested and defied an nationwide ban on public demonstrations. During the protests, the hundreds of Malays chanted “Long Live the Malays” and “Allah Akhbar!” – God is great!

Newly elected legislators have moved to abolish privileges held by ethnic-Malays for more than three and half decades. The affirmative action program has granted ethnic-Malays a wide range of benefits from discounts on new houses to 30 percent quotas in initial public offerings. The movement to abolish the privileges highlights the core problems of the ethnic-based political system.

Hours after the protests, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi refused to resign despite calls from within his own party. The son of former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad asked him to take responsibility for the losses in the recent election. Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi declared that there was a “strong mandate” for him to continue because the UMNO had retained a “strong majority.” In an interview of state television, he said, “This is still a mandate given to me. I will not run away from my responsibility to carry out the wishes of the people.”

For more information, please see:

International Herald Tribune – Malay Demonstration Highlights Ethnic Tension –14 March 2008

International Herald Tribune – Malaysia Prime Minister Rejects Calls to Resign –14 March 2008