Barisan Nasional
Encyclopedia
Barisan Nasional is a major political coalition
in Malaysia, formed in 1973 as the successor to the Alliance (Perikatan). Along with its predecessor, it has been Malaysia's federal ruling political force since independence. The coalition's headquarters is located in the nation's capital, Kuala Lumpur
.
Barisan Nasional was delivered a severe political blow in the aftermath of the 2008 general elections
when it lost more than one-third of parliamentary
seats to Pakatan Rakyat
, a loose alliance of opposition parties. Five state governments, Kelantan
, Kedah
, Penang
, Perak
(which was later returned via court ruling following a constitutional crisis
) and Selangor
, fell to Pakatan Rakyat as well.
(MCA), and the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) — each of which is sectarian in nature, though officially supporting racial harmony for the cameras. In the view of some scholars,
Although both the Alliance and Barisan Nasional registered themselves as political parties
, membership was only possible indirectly through one of the constituent parties. In the Alliance, one could hold direct membership, but this was abolished with the formation of the Barisan Nasional. The Barisan Nasional defines itself as "a confederation
of political parties which subscribe to the objects of the Barisan Nasional". Although in elections, all candidates stand under the Barisan Nasional symbol, and there is a Barisan Nasional manifesto, each individual constituent party also issues its own manifesto, and there is intra-coalition competition for seats prior to nomination day.
As of August 2009, Barisan Nasional's member parties are:
(MPs), Bung Moktar Radin
and Mohamed Aziz, supported a motion by Opposition leader Lim Kit Siang of the Democratic Action Party
(DAP) to refer International Trade and Industry Ministry secretary Sidek Hassan to the Committee of Privileges. Deputy Prime Minister Dato Seri Najib Tun Razak
, who is also the BN whip in the Dewan Rakyat
(lower house of Parliament) had the two MPs referred to the Cabinet for breaking the BN policy of never voting for motions proposed by the opposition. According to Najib, the two MPs apologised for their actions once informed of their mistake. Eventually, the Cabinet settled on a reprimand and with no further action taken.
In the aftermath of the general election
held on March 8, 2008, there were calls from component parties from Sabah and Sarawak for more autonomy from the federal government.
In 2008, the Sabah Progressive Party
(SAPP), consisting of two MPs, announced it would leave Barisan Nasional to sit on the crossbenches of Parliament.
Coalition
A coalition is a pact or treaty among individuals or groups, during which they cooperate in joint action, each in their own self-interest, joining forces together for a common cause. This alliance may be temporary or a matter of convenience. A coalition thus differs from a more formal covenant...
in Malaysia, formed in 1973 as the successor to the Alliance (Perikatan). Along with its predecessor, it has been Malaysia's federal ruling political force since independence. The coalition's headquarters is located in the nation's capital, Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
.
Barisan Nasional was delivered a severe political blow in the aftermath of the 2008 general elections
Malaysian general election, 2008
The 12th Malaysian general election was held on March 8, 2008, in accordance with Malaysian laws for national elections, which states that a general election must be held no later than five years subsequent to the previous elections; the previous general election was held in 2004...
when it lost more than one-third of parliamentary
Parliament of Malaysia
The Parliament of Malaysia is the national legislature of Malaysia, based on the Westminster system. The bicameral parliament consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The King as the Head of State is the third component of Parliament....
seats to Pakatan Rakyat
Pakatan Rakyat
Pakatan Rakyat or PR is an informal Malaysian political coalition. It currently controls four state governments while in opposition to the ruling Barisan Nasional at the federal level....
, a loose alliance of opposition parties. Five state governments, Kelantan
Kelantan
Kelantan is a state of Malaysia. The capital and royal seat is Kota Bharu. The Arabic honorific of the state is Darul Naim, ....
, Kedah
Kedah
Kedah is a state of Malaysia, located in the northwestern part of Peninsular Malaysia. The state covers a total area of over 9,000 km², and it consists of the mainland and Langkawi. The mainland has a relatively flat terrain, which is used to grow rice...
, Penang
Penang
Penang is a state in Malaysia and the name of its constituent island, located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia by the Strait of Malacca. It is bordered by Kedah in the north and east, and Perak in the south. Penang is the second smallest Malaysian state in area after Perlis, and the...
, Perak
Perak
Perak , one of the 13 states of Malaysia, is the second largest state in the Peninsular Malaysia bordering Kedah and Yala Province of Thailand to the north, Penang to the northwest, Kelantan and Pahang to the east, Selangor the Strait of Malacca to the south and west.Perak means silver in Malay...
(which was later returned via court ruling following a constitutional crisis
2009 Perak constitutional crisis
The 2009 Perak constitutional crisis was a political dispute in Malaysia regarding the legitimacy of the Perak state government formed in February 2009. It began when three Pakatan Rakyat state legislators defected, causing a collapse of the state government...
) and Selangor
Selangor
Selangor also known by its Arabic honorific, Darul Ehsan, or "Abode of Sincerity") is one of the 13 states of Malaysia. It is on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia and is bordered by Perak to the north, Pahang to the east, Negeri Sembilan to the south and the Strait of Malacca to the west...
, fell to Pakatan Rakyat as well.
Organisation
The vast majority of Barisan Nasional's seats are held by its three largest religion and race-based political parties — the United Malays National Organization (UMNO), the Malaysian Chinese AssociationMalaysian Chinese Association
Malaysian Chinese Association is a uni-racial political party in Malaysia that represents the Malaysian Chinese ethnicity; it is one of the three major component parties of the ruling coalition in Malaysia called the Barisan Nasional in Malay, or National Front in English.Along with the largest...
(MCA), and the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) — each of which is sectarian in nature, though officially supporting racial harmony for the cameras. In the view of some scholars,
Although both the Alliance and Barisan Nasional registered themselves as political parties
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
, membership was only possible indirectly through one of the constituent parties. In the Alliance, one could hold direct membership, but this was abolished with the formation of the Barisan Nasional. The Barisan Nasional defines itself as "a confederation
Confederation
A confederation in modern political terms is a permanent union of political units for common action in relation to other units. Usually created by treaty but often later adopting a common constitution, confederations tend to be established for dealing with critical issues such as defense, foreign...
of political parties which subscribe to the objects of the Barisan Nasional". Although in elections, all candidates stand under the Barisan Nasional symbol, and there is a Barisan Nasional manifesto, each individual constituent party also issues its own manifesto, and there is intra-coalition competition for seats prior to nomination day.
As of August 2009, Barisan Nasional's member parties are:
- United Malays National Organization (UMNO)
- Malaysian Chinese AssociationMalaysian Chinese AssociationMalaysian Chinese Association is a uni-racial political party in Malaysia that represents the Malaysian Chinese ethnicity; it is one of the three major component parties of the ruling coalition in Malaysia called the Barisan Nasional in Malay, or National Front in English.Along with the largest...
(MCA) - Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC)
- Malaysian People's Movement Party (GERAKAN)
- People's Progressive PartyPeople's Progressive Party (Malaysia)The People's Progressive Party is a political party in Malaysia.The party is one of the constituent members of the ruling National Front and is a multiracial party.-History:...
(PPP) - Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB)
- Sarawak United People's PartySarawak United People's PartyThe Sarawak United Peoples' Party, or SUPP is a political party in Malaysia. The party is one of the constituent members of the ruling Barisan Nasional...
(SUPP) - Parti Bersatu SabahParti Bersatu SabahThe Parti Bersatu Sabah is a political party in Sabah, east Malaysia. It was registered as a political party on March 5, 1985...
(PBS) - Liberal Democratic PartyLiberal Democratic Party (Malaysia)The Liberal Democratic Party is a Chinese political party originally founded in the town of Tawau, Sabah, Malaysia by Hiew Min Kong in 1989.The party is considered a minor political party in Malaysia, having its base mainly in Sabah...
(LDP) - Parti Bersatu Rakyat SabahParti Bersatu Rakyat SabahParti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah or PBRS is a minor political party based in Sabah, east Malaysia. It was formed by disaffected members of the Parti Bersatu Sabah on 11 March 1994. On 10 June 1994, it was officially accepted as one of the component parties in the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition...
(PBRS) - United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut OrganisationUnited Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut OrganisationThe United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation is a political party based in Sabah, east Malaysia. It is an ethnically-based party striving to voice the rights and advance the development of Kadazan-Dusun and Murut population of Sabah and the Orang Asli of Peninsular Malaysia.-History:The...
(UPKO) - Sarawak Progressive Democratic PartySarawak Progressive Democratic PartySarawak Progressive Democratic Party, or SPDP is a Sarawak based political party in Malaysia founded in 2002...
(SPDP) - Sarawak People's Party (PRS)
Party loyalty in Parliament
In 2005, the issue of voting along party lines was brought up when two Barisan National Members of ParliamentParliament of Malaysia
The Parliament of Malaysia is the national legislature of Malaysia, based on the Westminster system. The bicameral parliament consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The King as the Head of State is the third component of Parliament....
(MPs), Bung Moktar Radin
Bung Moktar Radin
Datuk Bung Moktar Radin is a Malaysian politician. He is currently the Member of the Parliament of Malaysia for the Kinabatangan constituency in Sabah, representing the United Malay National Organisation party in the governing Barisan Nasional coalition....
and Mohamed Aziz, supported a motion by Opposition leader Lim Kit Siang of the Democratic Action Party
Democratic Action Party
The Democratic Action Party, or DAP is a secular, multi-racial, social democratic Malaysian political party.The DAP is one of the three major opposition parties in Malaysia, along with the PKR and PAS, that are seen as electable alternatives to the Barisan Nasional coalition of parties...
(DAP) to refer International Trade and Industry Ministry secretary Sidek Hassan to the Committee of Privileges. Deputy Prime Minister Dato Seri Najib Tun Razak
Najib Tun Razak
Dato' Sri Haji Mohd Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak is the sixth, and since 2009, Prime Minister of Malaysia. He previously held the post of Deputy Prime Minister from 7 January 2004 until he succeeded Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as Prime Minister on 3 April 2009. Najib is President of the United...
, who is also the BN whip in the Dewan Rakyat
Dewan Rakyat
The Dewan Rakyat is the lower house of the Parliament of Malaysia. All bills must usually be passed by both the Dewan Rakyat and the Dewan Negara , before they are given Royal Assent by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong...
(lower house of Parliament) had the two MPs referred to the Cabinet for breaking the BN policy of never voting for motions proposed by the opposition. According to Najib, the two MPs apologised for their actions once informed of their mistake. Eventually, the Cabinet settled on a reprimand and with no further action taken.
In the aftermath of the general election
Malaysian general election, 2008
The 12th Malaysian general election was held on March 8, 2008, in accordance with Malaysian laws for national elections, which states that a general election must be held no later than five years subsequent to the previous elections; the previous general election was held in 2004...
held on March 8, 2008, there were calls from component parties from Sabah and Sarawak for more autonomy from the federal government.
In 2008, the Sabah Progressive Party
Sabah Progressive Party
The Sabah Progressive Party is a political party based in Sabah, East Malaysia. It was registered on 21 January 1994 by dissidents led by former Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Yong Teck Lee from Parti Bersatu Sabah . Formerly a component party in the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition, SAPP officially...
(SAPP), consisting of two MPs, announced it would leave Barisan Nasional to sit on the crossbenches of Parliament.
Controlled States & Chief Ministers
- JohorJohorJohor is a Malaysian state, located in the southern portion of Peninsular Malaysia. It is one of the most developed states in Malaysia. The state capital city and royal city of Johor is Johor Bahru, formerly known as Tanjung Puteri...
- Menteri BesarMenteri BesarThe Menteri Besar is the chief executive of the state government for states in Malaysia with hereditary rulers. For states without a monarch, the title Chief Minister is used...
: Yang Amat Berhormat Datuk SeriMalay titlesThe Malay language has a complex system of titles and honorifics, which are still used extensively in Malaysia and Brunei. Singapore, whose Malay royalty was abolished by the British colonial government in 1891, has adopted civic titles for its leaders....
Abdul Ghani OthmanAbdul Ghani OthmanDato' Hajji Abdul Ghani Bin Othman . is the current Menteri Besar of the state of Johor in Malaysia. He has been in office since 1995. Born in Sungai Mati, Ledang, Muar, Johor, Malaysia. He is a member of the United Malays National Organisation...
- Menteri Besar
- MalaccaMalaccaMalacca , dubbed The Historic State or Negeri Bersejarah among locals) is the third smallest Malaysian state, after Perlis and Penang. It is located in the southern region of the Malay Peninsula, on the Straits of Malacca. It borders Negeri Sembilan to the north and the state of Johor to the south...
- Chief MinisterChief MinisterA Chief Minister is the elected head of government of a sub-national state, provinces of Sri Lanka, Pakistan, notably a state of India, a territory of Australia or a British Overseas Territory that has attained self-government...
: Yang Amat Berhormat Datuk SeriMalay titlesThe Malay language has a complex system of titles and honorifics, which are still used extensively in Malaysia and Brunei. Singapore, whose Malay royalty was abolished by the British colonial government in 1891, has adopted civic titles for its leaders....
Mohd Ali RustamMohd Ali RustamDatuk Seri Haji Mohd Ali bin Mohd Rustam is a Malaysian politician. He is a member of the United Malays National Organisation and is the current Chief Minister of the state of Malacca.-Biography:...
- Chief Minister
- Negeri SembilanNegeri SembilanNegeri Sembilan, one of the 13 states that constitutes Malaysia, lies on the western coast of Peninsular Malaysia, just south of Kuala Lumpur and borders Selangor on the north, Pahang in the east, and Malacca and Johor to the south....
- Menteri BesarMenteri BesarThe Menteri Besar is the chief executive of the state government for states in Malaysia with hereditary rulers. For states without a monarch, the title Chief Minister is used...
: Yang Amat Berhormat Datuk SeriMalay titlesThe Malay language has a complex system of titles and honorifics, which are still used extensively in Malaysia and Brunei. Singapore, whose Malay royalty was abolished by the British colonial government in 1891, has adopted civic titles for its leaders....
Haji Mohamad HassanMohamad Hassan (Menteri Besar)Datuk Seri Utama Haji Mohamad Haji Hassan is the current Menteri Besar of Negeri Sembilan. He was born on May 2, 1956 in Rembau, Negeri Sembilan. He received his primary education at SK Datuk Akhir Zaman at Rantau and furthered his studies at SMK Rantau and SMK Tuanku Ampuan Durah at Seremban. He...
- Menteri Besar
- PerakPerakPerak , one of the 13 states of Malaysia, is the second largest state in the Peninsular Malaysia bordering Kedah and Yala Province of Thailand to the north, Penang to the northwest, Kelantan and Pahang to the east, Selangor the Strait of Malacca to the south and west.Perak means silver in Malay...
- Menteri BesarMenteri BesarThe Menteri Besar is the chief executive of the state government for states in Malaysia with hereditary rulers. For states without a monarch, the title Chief Minister is used...
: Yang Amat Berhormat Datuk SeriMalay titlesThe Malay language has a complex system of titles and honorifics, which are still used extensively in Malaysia and Brunei. Singapore, whose Malay royalty was abolished by the British colonial government in 1891, has adopted civic titles for its leaders....
Dr. Zambry Abdul KadirZambry Abdul KadirDato' Seri Dr. Zambry Abdul Kadir is the current Menteri Besar of Perak and a Malaysian politician from the United Malays National Organisation , the leading party in the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition.-Education:-Perak Constitutional Crisis:...
- Menteri Besar
- PahangPahangPahang is the third largest state in Malaysia, after Sarawak and Sabah, occupying the huge Pahang River river basin. It is bordered to the north by Kelantan, to the west by Perak, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, to the south by Johor and to the east by Terengganu and the South China Sea.Its state...
- Menteri BesarMenteri BesarThe Menteri Besar is the chief executive of the state government for states in Malaysia with hereditary rulers. For states without a monarch, the title Chief Minister is used...
: Yang Amat Berhormat Datuk SeriMalay titlesThe Malay language has a complex system of titles and honorifics, which are still used extensively in Malaysia and Brunei. Singapore, whose Malay royalty was abolished by the British colonial government in 1891, has adopted civic titles for its leaders....
Adnan YaakobAdnan YaakobDato' Seri Haji Adnan bin Haji Yaakob is a Malaysian politician and the current Menteri Besar of Pahang. He is a member of the United Malays National Organisation .-Biography:...
- Menteri Besar
- PerlisPerlisPerlis is the smallest state in Malaysia. It lies at the northern part of the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia and has Satun and Songkhla Provinces of Thailand on its northern border. It is bordered by the state of Kedah to the south...
- Menteri BesarMenteri BesarThe Menteri Besar is the chief executive of the state government for states in Malaysia with hereditary rulers. For states without a monarch, the title Chief Minister is used...
: Yang Amat Berhormat Datuk SeriMalay titlesThe Malay language has a complex system of titles and honorifics, which are still used extensively in Malaysia and Brunei. Singapore, whose Malay royalty was abolished by the British colonial government in 1891, has adopted civic titles for its leaders....
Dr. Md Isa SabuMd Isa SabuDatuk Seri Dr Md Isa Sabu is the sixth Chief Minister of the Malaysian state of Perlis. He is a member of the United Malays National Organisation and holds the state assembly seat of Bintong, in the Perlis capital of Kangar....
- Menteri Besar
- SabahSabahSabah is one of 13 member states of Malaysia. It is located on the northern portion of the island of Borneo. It is the second largest state in the country after Sarawak, which it borders on its southwest. It also shares a border with the province of East Kalimantan of Indonesia in the south...
- Chief MinisterChief MinisterA Chief Minister is the elected head of government of a sub-national state, provinces of Sri Lanka, Pakistan, notably a state of India, a territory of Australia or a British Overseas Territory that has attained self-government...
: Yang Amat Berhormat Datuk SeriMalay titlesThe Malay language has a complex system of titles and honorifics, which are still used extensively in Malaysia and Brunei. Singapore, whose Malay royalty was abolished by the British colonial government in 1891, has adopted civic titles for its leaders....
Musa AmanMusa AmanDatuk Seri Panglima Haji Musa bin Haji Aman , is the 14th and current Chief Minister of the state of Sabah in Malaysia. He took over the post from Chong Kah Kiat on March 27, 2003...
- Chief Minister
- SarawakSarawakSarawak is one of two Malaysian states on the island of Borneo. Known as Bumi Kenyalang , Sarawak is situated on the north-west of the island. It is the largest state in Malaysia followed by Sabah, the second largest state located to the North- East.The administrative capital is Kuching, which...
- Chief MinisterChief MinisterA Chief Minister is the elected head of government of a sub-national state, provinces of Sri Lanka, Pakistan, notably a state of India, a territory of Australia or a British Overseas Territory that has attained self-government...
: Yang Amat Berhomat Pehin SriMalay titlesThe Malay language has a complex system of titles and honorifics, which are still used extensively in Malaysia and Brunei. Singapore, whose Malay royalty was abolished by the British colonial government in 1891, has adopted civic titles for its leaders....
Abdul Taib MahmudAbdul Taib MahmudPehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib bin Mahmud is the fourth and current Chief Minister of Sarawak. He is also the state Financial Minister and Planning and Resource Management Minister. Taib is the President of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu , which is part of the Barisan Nasional coalition...
- Chief Minister
- TerengganuTerengganuTerengganu is a sultanate and constitutive state of federal Malaysia. The state is also known by its Arabic honorific, Darul Iman...
- Menteri BesarMenteri BesarThe Menteri Besar is the chief executive of the state government for states in Malaysia with hereditary rulers. For states without a monarch, the title Chief Minister is used...
: Yang Amat BerhormatMalay titlesThe Malay language has a complex system of titles and honorifics, which are still used extensively in Malaysia and Brunei. Singapore, whose Malay royalty was abolished by the British colonial government in 1891, has adopted civic titles for its leaders....
DatukMalay titlesThe Malay language has a complex system of titles and honorifics, which are still used extensively in Malaysia and Brunei. Singapore, whose Malay royalty was abolished by the British colonial government in 1891, has adopted civic titles for its leaders....
Ahmad SaidAhmad SaidDatuk Seri Ahmad Said is the Menteri Besar of the state of Terengganu, Malaysia since 2008. He is a member of the United Malays National Organisation which is part of the nation ruling coalition Barisan Nasional...
- Menteri Besar