Abstract

In Malaysia, normally people did not care much about election results. Tensions sometimes arisen but only up to the election days. Everyone would expect no different results from the previous elections. The coalition of ruling government would win with at least two third majorities, a majority win which would allow them to control the legislature. Under her federal system, the state governments would replicate the central government although there were terms where one or two states being controlled by the opposition. However, the 12th General Election of 2008 has had its impact on the Malaysia’s political landscape. It surprised everyone, including the coalition of ruling government, the coalition of opposition parties, political pundits, scholars, and even the ordinary Malaysians. For the first time since conducting her own election after gaining independence in 1957, the ruling government lost its two third majority win and five state governments fell into the hands of the opposition parties. This paper explains the needs for coalition of political parties in the states comprising of plural society, like Malaysia, and the type of majority win which will secure the government. The paper proposes `a Model of Political Coalition and a Majority Win’ to explain the political parties in pursuit for powers in Malaysia. Variables in this Model would be explained using moderators of 6C factors, representing Coalition, Cooperation, Compromise, Conspiracy, Contingency and Consequences. Coalition is the basis in the pursuit for power. Cooperation and Compromise are the overt means for achieving the ultimate goal for powers, whereas Contingency and Conspiracy is the covert of alternative means for failed and threatened strategies. The final product is the structure of powers which represents the Consequences of the struggles between political parties. Hopefully this Model contributes to some knowledge about the needs for coalition and the meaning of majority win in states made up of plural society like Malaysia.