Masyarakat Sivil Dan Demokratisasi Politik Di Malaysia: Satu Analisis Ringkas

Abstract

This paper analyzes the democratization process in Malaysia by positing the role of civil society as the engine of change. The analysis in this paper differs from the views of previous scholars who argued that political protests against the government first emerged during Dr Mahathir's regime. In fact, this paper argues that the protests process started even before Malaysian independence. Although this process continues to take place, it has not brought about real democratization in Malaysia. This is because of the success of the ruling government in providing comfort and feeding the people resulting in difficulty for civil societies to convince the peoples of the need for political transformation. In this aspect, this paper discusses a new approach for political protests by civil society over abuse of power by government, that is through political protests 'from within' which is more effective in raising the people's consciousness toward political change. The paper ends with a conclusion that one of the distinguishing features of Malaysia politics that differs from other political regimes in the world is that political leaders in Malaysia never have to shed the blood of its citizens and this is the very reason that they are able to sustain their status quo until now