The Changing Relationship between Politics and Ethnicity in Contemporary Malaysia: The Emergence of Chinese Leaders Supporting PAS in Kelantan

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to advance an ethnographic analysis of Chinese leadership in Kelantan. The Chinese community in Kelantan is often referred to as a disadvantaged minority constrained by a strong Islamic political setting in which Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS) dominates. In fact, developments in the past decade have seen the emergence of Chinese leaders who support PAS. These leaders are actively expanding their political sphere and appealing to Chinese voters. This phenomenon is unique to West Malaysia, where political parties formed along exclusive ethnic lines dominate. The emergence of the Chinese leaders supporting PAS has its roots in the late 1990s, when a former Gerakan Deputy Youth leader converted to Islam and became the fi rst Chinese Muslim member of PAS. Since Anuar Tan was elected as a state assembly member in 1999, a number of Chinese have been appointed as municipal councilors and various committee members under the PAS state government. These leaders function as bridges between PAS and the Chinese community. To comprehend the social background of emerging Chinese leaders supporting PAS, this paper will focus especially on the structure of Chinese leadership and its relationship with the Islamic party. The paper ultimately seeks to understand the functions of ethnic boundaries in shaping politics in contemporary Malaysia.