ABSTRACT
Malay political dominance was understood by the political elite to be part of the "rules of the game," but this fact was disguised somewhat by ambiguity and the fiction of an equal partnership. This chapter examines the constitution and the role of formal institutions, the operation of the party system and elections, and styles and techniques of governing. Like other constitutions, the federal constitution in Malaysia describes the powers of the various organs of government, their relation to each other, and the rights of the citizens. Inside the cabinet, the prime minister is dominant. It is the prime minister, with the power to hire and fire, who chooses the cabinet. Malaysia's armed forces are overwhelmingly Malay, nonpolitical, and geared principally to the provision of security against internal Communist guerrillas. The major premise of politics in Malaysia is that the Malays are politically hegemonic; in other words, they are in control.
