ABSTRACT
Malaysia is a federation of thirteen states with a population of about 20 million people. "Communalism" refers to the ethnic division of Malaysia. Political competition in Malaysia really takes place inside United Malays National Organization. By contrast with Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Burma, all countries whose constitutions have been suspended at least once, Malaysia's electoral processes have remained intact. Civil liberties are limited in Malaysia. From the beginning the Malaysian government tried to inculcate in citizens the conviction that preserving ethnic harmony is more important than enjoying all the freedoms of liberal democracy. An important factor contributing to Malaysia relatively open society is that the market economy is oriented toward international trade. Malaysia's foreign policy is freer from external constraints and pressures than that of almost any other Southeast Asian nation. For the past quarter century Malaysians have enjoyed a rate of economic growth that is the envy of other developing nations.
