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The Practice of Asian Democracy in Kelantan State, Malaysia, 1959–2013

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 May 2018

AMER SAIFUDE GHAZALI ,
ABU HANIFAH HARIS  and
ZULKANAIN ABDUL RAHMAN
AMER SAIFUDE GHAZALI
Affiliation:
Senior Lecturer at the Department of Geography, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, [email protected]
ABU HANIFAH HARIS
Affiliation:
Senior Lecturer at the Department of History, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, [email protected]
ZULKANAIN ABDUL RAHMAN
Affiliation:
Associate Professor at the Department of History, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, [email protected]
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Abstract

The debates on Asian democracy began 30 years ago. Western countries have often promoted liberal democracy as being the genuine democracy, giving justice to the people and being able to meet the needs of their communities. However, at the same time, some Asian countries practice democracy that promotes Asian values, which are very different from Western values. Western countries describe Asian democracy as an excuse for some leaders to maintain power in their respective countries, for example Malaysia. Critics have pointed out that some Asian leaders have used authoritarianism or despotism in order to mitigate the weaknesses of their rule. Asian democracy is practiced in Kelantan where the PAS (Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party) continued to maintain power for 23 years, from 1990 to 2013. Factors that have contributed to the long rule of the PAS party include socio-political stability, including political parties who were clean and competent and leaders who are knowledgeable and pious.

Type
Research Article
Information
Japanese Journal of Political Science , Volume 19 , Issue 2 , June 2018 , pp. 105 - 121
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2018 

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