ABSTRACT
This chapter argues that in contemporary Malaysia, while ethnic issues are still central, BERSIH's advocacy suggests greater potential for effective, multi-ethnic social movements in Malaysian politics, particularly since 2008. It focuses on BERSIH's multi-ethnic mobilisation and Hindu Rights Action Force (HINDRAF)'s working-class Indians' rally and explores Perkasa's Malay supremacy in Malaysian politics. The chapter describes the social movements' meaning and implications for Malaysian politics and civil society. BERSIH, HINDRAF and Perkasa have significantly contributed to the changing political landscape in Malaysia. These social movements and their activism have quite substantially impacted Malaysian politics, which, in turn, has provided the impetus for future debates regarding the role of civil society in strengthening democracy and race relations in an ethnically divided country like Malaysia. In the case of BERSIH and HINDRAF, although the government initially reacted harshly by using police force and detaining leaders under draconian state laws, it eventually incorporated numerous demands that these social movements stipulated into its decision-making process.
