This essay examines the case for a PR electoral system in Malaysia. Based on assessments along three dimensions of electorate representation, ethnic conciliation and women’s representation, I recommend the adoption of a preferential PR system with low district magnitude and an electoral threshold.
Malaysia is a plural society, defined by Eckstein as a society divided along ethnoreligious cleavages. Malaysia's multiracial population is divided into three main groups with the majority Bumiputera (67.4% of population) comprising of indigenous groups (mainly Muslim Malays), while Chinese and Indians minorities make up 24.6% and 7.3% of the population respectively.
A legacy of being a former British colony, Malaysia adopts the Westminster model of democracy. This has contributed to an extremely stable form of government with the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition ruling uninterrupted from independence in 1957 until the 2018 election, when it lost power to the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition.
The political system suffers from three key issues: disproportionate representation of electorate, ethnic polarization and low women’s representation. The following sections assess the impact of a PR electoral system on each of these areas based on academic literature and empirical studies.
Table of Contents
- BACKGROUND
- PR SYSTEM FAVOURS A MORE REPRESENTATIVE PARLIAMENT
- PR SYSTEM FAVOURS ETHNIC CONCILIATION
- PR SYSTEM FAVOURS HIGHER WOMEN'S REPRESENTATION
- POLICY TRADE-OFFS AND LIMITATIONS
- RECOMMENDATIONS
- IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY
- REFERENCES
Objectives and Key Themes
This essay analyzes the merits of adopting a proportional representation (PR) electoral system in Malaysia. It assesses the potential impacts of PR on electorate representation, ethnic conciliation, and women's representation, ultimately recommending a specific PR system type.
- Comparative analysis of FPTP and PR electoral systems in Malaysia.
- The impact of PR on electorate representation and the reduction of big-party bias.
- The role of PR in promoting ethnic conciliation in a plural society.
- The effect of PR on increasing women's representation in parliament.
- Trade-offs between representation and government accountability in different electoral systems.
Chapter Summaries
BACKGROUND: This section introduces Malaysia as a plural society characterized by ethnoreligious cleavages, outlining the demographic distribution of its main ethnic groups (Bumiputera, Chinese, and Indian). It notes that Malaysia, a former British colony, uses the Westminster model of democracy, with the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition ruling uninterrupted until 2018. The section highlights three key issues within the existing political system: disproportionate representation, ethnic polarization, and low female representation, setting the stage for the subsequent analysis of how a PR system could address these problems.
PR SYSTEM FAVOURS A MORE REPRESENTATIVE PARLIAMENT: This chapter focuses on the shortcomings of the existing First-Past-The-Post (FPTP) system, particularly its inherent big-party bias. Using data from Malaysian elections (Table 1), the chapter demonstrates how the ruling coalition consistently secured a disproportionately larger share of parliamentary seats compared to its vote share. In contrast, it argues that PR systems are superior in accurately translating vote shares into seat shares, promoting multi-partism and ensuring a more representative parliament, citing scholarly works by Carey & Hix (2011) and Lijphart (1984) to support this claim.
PR SYSTEM FAVOURS ETHNIC CONCILIATION: This section examines the potential of PR systems to foster ethnic conciliation in Malaysia's plural society. It highlights the existing tension between ethnic groups and argues that PR, by allowing for proportional representation of different ethnic groups through their own parties, can mitigate ethnic conflict. The chapter cites research indicating a correlation between PR systems and lower risks of ethnic conflict (Cohen 1997, Saideman et al. 2002, Schneider & Wiesehomeier 2008), emphasizing the role of increased district magnitudes in improving minority representation (Cox 1990). Furthermore, it discusses Huber's (2012) work on the lower levels of ethnicization under PR systems, arguing that PR allows parties to focus on issues beyond race, reducing its political saliency. The role of preferential PR systems in encouraging inter-ethnic vote transfers and the emergence of multi-ethnic parties is also discussed, referencing Reilly's (2002) work on the importance of mixed ethnic settlements for the success of such systems.
PR SYSTEM FAVOURS HIGHER WOMEN'S REPRESENTATION: This chapter addresses the low representation of women in Malaysian politics. It compares the average representation of women under PR and FPTP systems (Chart 3), illustrating the significantly higher average in PR systems. Two theories are explored: “balancing pressures,” where higher district magnitudes incentivize parties to include women candidates for broader appeal; and “contagion pressures,” where the practice of nominating women spreads more easily in PR systems due to lower costs and higher benefits. The chapter draws on Matland's (2005) research and Matland & Studlar's (1996) comparative study of Canada and Norway to support these arguments. It further analyzes the role of electoral thresholds and the impact of a party-centered system, supported by Thames and Williams (2010), in promoting women's representation under PR.
POLICY TRADE-OFFS AND LIMITATIONS: This chapter explores the trade-offs involved in choosing between FPTP and PR systems, focusing on the tension between voter preference representation and government accountability. While acknowledging the superior representation offered by PR systems, it highlights the potential for weaker accountability due to multiparty coalition governments and the complexities this poses for assigning responsibility for political outcomes (Powell, 2000). The chapter connects this to Duverger's Law and Hypothesis (Riker, 1982), highlighting how FPTP systems tend towards two-party systems, while PR systems often lead to multipartism and the associated challenges in accountability.
Keywords
Proportional Representation (PR), First-Past-The-Post (FPTP), Malaysia, Electoral Reform, Ethnic Conciliation, Women's Representation, Multipartism, Electoral Accountability, District Magnitude, Electoral Threshold, Plural Society.
Frequently Asked Questions: Analysis of Proportional Representation in Malaysia
What is the main topic of this essay?
This essay analyzes the potential benefits of adopting a proportional representation (PR) electoral system in Malaysia, focusing on its impact on representation, ethnic conciliation, and women's representation. It compares PR to the existing First-Past-The-Post (FPTP) system and ultimately recommends a specific type of PR system.
What are the key themes explored in the essay?
The key themes include a comparative analysis of FPTP and PR systems in Malaysia; the impact of PR on electorate representation and reducing bias towards larger parties; the role of PR in promoting ethnic conciliation in a plural society; the effect of PR on increasing women's representation in parliament; and the trade-offs between representation and government accountability in different electoral systems.
What are the shortcomings of the current FPTP system in Malaysia highlighted in the essay?
The essay highlights the FPTP system's inherent bias towards larger parties, leading to disproportionate representation in parliament where the ruling coalition consistently secured more seats than its vote share warranted. This is further exacerbated by issues of ethnic polarization and low female representation.
How does the essay argue that PR systems improve representation?
The essay argues that PR systems more accurately reflect vote shares in seat allocation, promoting multi-partism and resulting in a more representative parliament. It supports this claim by citing scholarly works that demonstrate the superior representational qualities of PR compared to FPTP.
What is the essay's argument regarding ethnic conciliation and PR?
The essay suggests that PR systems, by allowing proportional representation of different ethnic groups through their respective parties, can mitigate ethnic conflict. It cites research showing a correlation between PR systems and lower risks of ethnic conflict, emphasizing the role of increased district magnitudes in improving minority representation.
How does the essay address the issue of women's representation?
The essay examines the significantly higher average representation of women in PR systems compared to FPTP systems. It explores theories such as “balancing pressures” (higher district magnitudes incentivizing broader candidate appeal) and “contagion pressures” (easier spread of women's nominations in PR systems) to explain this difference. It also analyzes the role of electoral thresholds and party-centered systems in influencing women's representation under PR.
What are the potential trade-offs and limitations of PR systems discussed?
The essay acknowledges that while PR offers superior representation, it might lead to weaker government accountability due to the complexities of multiparty coalition governments and difficulties in assigning responsibility for political outcomes. The tension between voter preference representation and government accountability is a central theme.
What specific recommendations does the essay make?
While the provided text gives a comprehensive overview, the specific type of PR system recommended is not detailed in these summaries. The full text would need to be consulted for this information. However, the essay clearly advocates for a shift from FPTP to a PR system to address the identified issues.
What keywords are associated with this essay?
Proportional Representation (PR), First-Past-The-Post (FPTP), Malaysia, Electoral Reform, Ethnic Conciliation, Women's Representation, Multipartism, Electoral Accountability, District Magnitude, Electoral Threshold, Plural Society.
What is the structure of the essay?
The essay follows a structured format including a background section, chapters dedicated to the impact of PR on representation, ethnic conciliation and women's representation, a section addressing policy trade-offs, and concluding with recommendations and an implementation strategy.
- Quote paper
- Nishyodhan Balasundram (Author), 2020, Should Malaysia Switch from a First-Past-The-Post (FPTP) to a Proportional Representation (PR) Electoral System?, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/909568
