ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the factors involved in the democratic practice, which lead to the major political tensions. Maintaining and achieving stability the democratic practice lies in the recognition of diversity and in the attempt to discover commonalities through the political process. Most Parliamentarians firmly believe there are dangers in giving primacy to the notion that national and cultural contexts can and should determine the nature of democracy. Varying national contexts cannot justify derogations from the core principles of democracy. Malaysia provides an example of a parliamentary democracy being developed and built within a framework of a multiracial, multicultural and multireligious society. The long-standing cultural and religious values have played a major part in moulding and influencing Malaysia's parliamentary democracy. To a great extent they have enabled the Malaysian government to conceive and portray the citizen as a bearer of duties who is responsible for civic order, rather than merely a voter, consumer of services and bearer of rights.
