Page 23 - The Guide To Malaysia 9th Edition

THE GUIDE TO MALAYSIA 19
by MCA (Malaysian Chinese Association), MIC (Malaysian Indian Congress), some smaller peninsula-based parties and regional parties from Sabah and Sarawak.
Traditional opposition parties include Parti-Islam Se-Malaysia (Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party or PAS), Parti Keadilan Rakyat (People’s
Justice Party or PKR) and the Democratic Action Party (DAP) which, along with newer opposition parties, e.g. the Malaysian United Indigenous Party (PPBM) and National Trust Party (AMANAH), saw increasing support in recent years at the expense of BN.
In 2018 an opposition coalition, Pakatan
Harapan (Alliance of
Hope), comprising
PKR, DAP, PPBM and AMANAH unseated the Barisan Nasional and
took power on a reformist agenda in an unexpected victory, capturing both
the Federal Parliament
and a majority of state legislatures. The Pakatan Harapan government collapsed in February
2020 and a new coalition, Perikatan Nasional, took over. Perikatan Nasional has since been replaced by an informal coalition of parties led by UMNO. The political landscape is expected to consolidate when a new general election is held, which is expected to take place once the Covid-19
pandemic is under control. This change of Government at short intervals from
PH to PN and the present informal coalition is untypical of Malaysian politics and is expected to normalise after the next general election.
Legal System
Malaysia has an Anglo- Saxon style legal framework based on that of the UK with a written Constitution. The independent Judiciary consists of the Federal Court at its apex followed by the Court of Appeal. Below these are the
High Court in Malaya, whose jurisdiction covers Peninsular Malaysia, the High Court in Sabah and Sarawak, whose jurisdiction covers East Malaysia, followed by the Sessions Court and Magistrates’ Court. Community-level courts (Penghulu Courts in West Malaysia and Native Courts in East Malaysia) deal with minor offences according to customary law (adat). In addition, there is
a Court for Children dealing with juvenile offenders and a Special Court which hears cases involving the Heads of State of Malaysia and its component states.
A parallel system of Shariah Courts deals with Islamic Law, mostly family and inheritance cases. The Shariah Court’s jurisdiction is limited to Muslims, although non-Muslims may also choose to be tried or
to litigate under Shariah law if they so wish.
Security
Malaysia espouses and strictly practices the
rule of law, enforced
by a professional Police Force, backed up by RELA (People’s Voluntary Militia) and various neighbourhood security associations. Crime is low and violent crime against foreign visitors is extremely rare. Perceived corruption levels are the third lowest in the region after Singapore and Brunei, according to Transparency International, and 62nd out of 180 countries globally.
External security is guaranteed by apolitical, well-trained and seasoned armed forces, who have distinguished themselves in UN peacekeeping missions in some of the world’s most volatile regions. They are backed up by professional immigration and customs & excise services and marine security agencies.
Economy & Transportation
Malaysia has a vibrant market economy with an overall GDP of US$337.006 billion and a per-capita GDP of US$10,412 in 2020 according to the World Bank. The country is working hard to achieve High Income Nation Status and is the 3rd largest economy in Southeast Asia.
Malaysia’s economy was formerly based on commodities, especially