Malaysian Politics Under Mahathir (Politics in Asia Series)

A Hard-hitting And Readable Book Which Examines Mahathir's Character, His Ideas And Policies And Relates Them To The Social, Economic And Political Setting Inside Malaysia. Up Until Recently, High Rates Of Economic Growth And A Striking Reduction In Poverty Have Been The Hallmarks Of This Vibrant Tiger Economy. Mahathir's Success Has Now Been Placed In Jeopardy By The Recent Economic Crisis, And His Rule Is Coming Under Hostile Scrutiny. As One Of The Most Controversial Political Figures In South-east Asia, Mahathir's Success At Managing Ethnic Tensions, Policies Of Industrialization, Modernization And Foreign Policy Are Explored, As Are His Grandiose Projects, His Human Rights Record And Approach To Corruption. Milne And Mauzy, Leading Authors In This Field, Assess Mahathir's Rule Within This Context As Well As The Abrupt Dismissal From Office, Arrest And Trial Of Anwar Ibrahim, Mahathir's Deputy, In Late 1998. Introduction : Leadership In Malaysia -- 1. Malaysia : How Mahathir Came To Power -- 2. Mahathir's Assertion Of Executive Power -- 3. The Economy And Development -- 4. Containing Ethnic Discontent -- 5. Human Rights -- 6. Foreign Policy -- 7. The Succession To Mahathir : Anwar Ibrahim -- 8. Mahathir As Prime Minister. R.s. Milne And Diane K. Mauzy. Series Numbered Retrospectively. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [210]-216) And Index. Malaysia's long serving Prime Minister, Mahathir Mohamad, is a controversial political figure. High rates of economic growth and a striking reduction in poverty have been the hallmarks of a vibrant "Tiger" economy. This success has now been placed in jeopardy by the recent economic crisis, and Mahathir's rule is coming under hostile scrutiny. This book examines Mahathir's character, his ideas and frequently despotic nature and relates them to the social, economic and political setting inside Malaysia. His success at managing ethnic tensions, policies of industrialization, modernization and foreign policy are covered, as are his grandiose projects, low regard for human rights and failure to check corruption. The abrupt dismissal from office, arrest and trial of Anwar Ibrahim, Mahathir's deputy, in late 1998, and their implications are assessed. The authors provide a highly accessible and balanced account of one of Southeast Asia's most significant politicians, his legacy and Malaysia's political development. Book Cover......Page 1 Title......Page 4 Contents......Page 5 Foreword......Page 10 Acknowledgements......Page 12 List of acronyms......Page 13 Malaysian proper names and titles......Page 16 Key dates......Page 17 Map 1 Southeast Asia......Page 19 Map 2 Malaysia......Page 20 Introduction: leadership in Malaysia......Page 22 Malaysia: how Mahathir came to power......Page 29 Mahathir's assertion of executive power......Page 50 The economy and development......Page 71 Containing ethnic discontent......Page 101 Human rights......Page 124 Foreign policy......Page 143 The succession to Mahathir: Anwar Ibrahim......Page 165 Mahathir as Prime Minister......Page 180 Postscript......Page 208 Notes......Page 210 Further reading......Page 231 Index......Page 238