Elections as Popular Culture
Francis Kok Wah Loh2007, ‘Engaging the 2004 General Election in Malaysia: Contrasting Roles and Goals’ in Chua Beng Huat (ed.) Elections as Popular Culture in Asia, London: Routledge, pp. 115-38.
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Abstract
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The paper examines the interplay between elections and popular culture in Malaysia, focusing on how electoral laws and practices favor the incumbent Barisan Nasional (BN) party while hindering opposition parties. It discusses the manipulations in electoral boundaries, financial obstacles imposed on candidates, and limitations on campaign practices that contribute to a predictable electoral outcome favoring BN. Through analyzing various campaign dynamics, the work highlights the broader cultural implications of these electoral processes and the challenges faced by opposition candidates, ultimately illustrating how the structure of electoral politics in Malaysia exemplifies themes of coercion and limited democratic engagement.
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