The planners of the 1950's were not aware of the rapid social change that would take place in Malaysia. For example, among the Malays the impact of modernization contributed to growing ties to Islam and to political support for the Parti Islam Sa-Malaysia (PAS). PAS's political base was among rural Islamic teachers and scholars, who were generally unsympathetic to the Malaysian aristocracy dominating UMNO.
In addition, the Chinese became more and more dissatisfied with their role of political subordination, and in the federal election of 1969 the MCA lost considerable ground among the Chinese voters to opposition parties, notably the Malaysian People's Movement. In May, 1969, the racial tension created from this discord resulted in widespread rioting in Kuala Lumpur. Many hundreds were killed. To restore order, the constitution was suspended and a national emergency declared.
The riots of 1969 forced a major readjustment: Communal interests and aspirations were accommodated, and the manner in which the details of the accommodation were negotiated among the major communities was changed. The New Economic Policy (NEP) was implemented over the next twenty years. It provided the Malays with a far greater share in the wealth of the country and a far wider range of employment and educational opportunities. In addition, a quota system was established requiring Malaysian representation (at specified levels) in business, education, and government.
At the same time coalition politics changed. The UMNO-MCA-MIC alliance was replaced by a broader coalition called the Barisan National (BN, or National Front). The BN's objective was to draw as many parties as possible into the government under the leadership of UMNO. The BN has governed Malaysia ever since, and all significant parties except the Democratic Action Party (DAP) and the dissolved Semangat '46 have joined it.
The New Economic Policy has successfully improved the lives of Malays without damaging the economy. In 1991 the NEP was renewed as the New Development Policy and altered to encourage help for poorer people of all races. While this program is cred-
Ited with discouraging violence between ethnic groups, it has discouraged racial integration.
World History
