Malaysia’s opposition is not dead: Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad
Channel: ANU TV
Date: 13/07/2015

It has been a massive few months in Malaysian politics, with the collapse of the country’s opposition alliance, Pakatan Rakyat, and major corruption allegations against Prime Minister Najib Razak grabbing headlines all over the world. 

In this interview for New Mandala, James Giggacher talks to opposition parliamentarian Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad from the People’s Justice Party. 

The two discuss whether Malaysia’s opposition movement – the most successful in the country’s history and which almost toppled the 60-year rule of Barisan Nasional in 2013 elections – is now dead, and if so what this means for the future of democracy in the country. 

They also look at who might lead the opposition now that long-time leader Anwar Ibrahim is in jail and disqualified from elections in 2018, whether Najib Razak’s position as PM is tenable, and if Malaysia is at risk of sliding towards fundamentalism and authoritarianism.

Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad is a major star of Malaysian politics, entering parliament in 2008 as the country’s youngest elected representative. Formerly an assistant to Anwar Ibrahim, he is now Selangor State Minister and head of the People’s Justice Party Youth Branch.

Nik Nazmi was educated in Malaysia and at King's College London. He has published the books Moving Forward: Malays in the 21st Century and Coming of Age: A Decade of Essays 2001-2011.

New Mandala is a specialist academic website featuring the best anecdote and analysis on Southeast Asian politics, economics, society and international relations.

See more at http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/