| Oct 1990 |
Elections to the House of Representatives were held with the main opposition Malaysian Chinese Democratic Action Party (DAP) more than doubling its seats. The gains were achieved largely at the expense of the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA), the group that traditionally represented Chinese interests. The MCA is a major partner in the ruling National Front. |
| May 1991 |
The freedom of the Malaysian press, an issue of vital importance during the late 1980s, reemerged as an opposition concern during the year. The Home Ministry issued a stern warning to two opposition newspapers including the DAP's Rocket, that they had to restrict circulation to their party membership. With the imposition of the restriction, the Ministry had changed the newspapers' publishing status from that of newspapers to "in house" publications meant only for party members. |
| Jun 1991 |
The government granted permission for the National Human Rights Society of Malaysia to operate as a legal organization. |
| Dec 1991 |
The government refused an application by the London-based human rights organization Amnesty International to establish a Malaysian branch. |
| Aug 1992 |
Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad informed the Malaysian Chinese that the government policy of spreading wealth to the Malay Muslims should not be seen as an injustice, but a chance to share business skills with the bumiputras. |
| Nov 1992 |
Primary Industries Minister and leader of the Gerakan party, Dr. Lim Yaik, said that "Mandarin will be an international language" soon. There are about 50 independent Chinese schools that operate in Malaysia and teach in Mandarin and English. In the 1970s, Bahasa Malaysia was made the language of instruction at all levels of education. |
| Feb 1993 |
On the eve of the 44th anniversary of the MCA, the party launched a drive to recruit more English-educated Chinese. |
| Jun 1993 |
Malaysia's Prime Minister made a 10-day official visit to China, leading the biggest-ever 290-member official delegation. During the visit, the two sides signed more than 30 agreements and memoranda on the establishment of joint ventures in different fields. Tengu Hamzah, a former Minister and currently the leader of the opposition party, Spirit of '46, questioned the loyalty of Malaysian Chinese investing in China. In response, local Chinese leaders claimed that investments and deals with China are "not motivated by blood ties". The Prime Minister exhorted all non-Malays to master the Malay language and remarked that Malaya should be given greater economic value. |
| Jul 1993 |
The Chinese have been urged by the government and community leaders, including the Defense Minister, to join the security services like the police and the military, where the Chinese are very much under-represented. According to the Defense Minister, the Indians and the Kadazans are better represented than the Chinese in the rank and file of the armed forces. Chinese community leaders indicated that low pay was the main disincentive for Chinese youth to join the army. They suggest some kind of National Service as the best way to secure the participation of all communities in maintaining the security of the country. The MCA was planning to invite 1500 people to a liquor party in Kota Baru next month as a protest against the Kelantan state Chief Minister's ban on drinking at parties. |
| Aug 1993 |
The President of the DAP Youth and an opposition MP Lim Eng charged that the government's discriminatory policies in education and employment opportunities have, over the years, led to low birth rates among the Malaysian Chinese. The Chinese population ratio in peninsular Malaysia has dropped from 32.8% in 1983 to 31.1% in 1989 (The Department of Family Planning, Annual Report 1989). |
| Feb 1994 |
Malaysian police and Islamic officials broke up a Chinese New Year's concert at the Chinese Assembly Hall in Kota Baru because it breached a local entertainment code that bars alcoholic drinks in public places. The State of Kelantan, controlled by opposition Islamic fundamentalists, recently introduced some "Sharia" law, a strict Islamic penal code. |
| Mar 1994 |
The MCA President has announced that the party will launch a nationwide campaign to raise funds for independent Chinese secondary schools (The Strait Times, 03/21/94). Currently, there are 60 Chinese secondary schools in the country that use Chinese as the medium of instruction. They depend on donations from the Chinese community because they do not qualify for government grants. |
| Sep 1994 |
Together with rapid economic growth, Malaysia is witnessing a boom in think-tanks and NGOs as public interest and lobbying groups. Brainstorming on behalf of the MCA is the Institute of Strategic Analysis and Planning (INSAP), directed by a leading businessman, Paul Low. The basic thrust of the INSAP's research is on issues affecting the Chinese in order to enable the community to carve out a more positive role for itself within the context of Vision 2020. |
| Jan 1995 |
The government has urged the Chinese community to stop viewing drug abuse as solely a Malay problem, since the racial composition in rehabilitation centers reflects the nation's population ratio: 50% Malays, 38% Chinese and 12% Indians. According to officials, the government has had difficulty enlisting the support of the Chinese community to deal with the problem (The Strait Times, 01/10/95). |
| Mar 1995 |
A professor at the Universiti Sains Malaysia states that a dialogue between Islam and Confucianism could help to eliminate stereotypes and prejudices. Dr. Chandra Muzaffar was speaking at an international forum organized by the National Front government. In order to promote communal harmony, the government is also fostering business partnerships between the two communities and increasing opportunities for higher education for Chinese students (The Straits Times, Singapore, 03/15/95). |
| Mar 1995 |
A historic charter was signed by the 14 political parties that comprise the ruling National Front government. The National Front Charter and People's Declaration is expected to pave the way for the establishment of a multi-racial Malaysian party. Among the signatories were the presidents of the Malaysian Indian Congress and the Malaysian Chinese Association (The Straits Times, Singapore, 03/26/95). |
| Mar 31, 1995 |
Asiaweek states that a more equitable distribution of wealth as a result of Malaysia's New Economic Policy (launched in 1970) has helped improved communal relations and foster assimilation. In 1990, around 20% of national assets were owned by Malays or indigenous peoples. Malays are now reported to be competing with other Malays as well as other ethnic groups. In order to help the Chinese feel more comfortable in Malaysia, the government allows them to visit China and actively encourages economic ties between the two countries. Many Chinese are now reported to regard China as a marketplace rather than a motherland (03/31/95). |
| Apr 1995 |
The Secretary-General of the opposition ethnic Chinese Democratic Action Party (DAP) is challenging the government to arrest him for allegedly fanning racial sentiments. Lim Kit Siang reportedly insinuated that the current chief minister of Penang, an UMNO member, is just a figurehead. The DAP is seeking to capture power in Penang, referred to as Malaysia's Silicon valley and the only Chinese dominated state, during federal elections on April 25 (Agence France Presse, 04/19/95). |
| Apr 20, 1995 |
The DAP filed a complaint with the police alleging that Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad broke the law in campaigning for the upcoming election. The DAP alleges Mohamad wrongfully accused its Secretary General Lim of insulting police and challenging them to arrest him at a rally last week (Agence France Presse, 04/20/95). |
| Apr 27, 1995 |
The governing National Front, led by Prime Minister Mohamad, secured a landslide victory in national elections. The NF, which a coalition of 14 parties from the major ethnic and religious communities, won 162 out of 192 parliamentary seats and 338/394 state seats. The DAP suffered a major defeat, winning only 9 federal seats and 11/394 seats in state polls. In Penang, the DAP managed to hold onto only one seat (International Herald Tribune, 04/27/95; Reuter Textline: Sydney Morning Herald, 04/27/95). Analysts indicate that Chinese voters shifted their votes away from the DAP to the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) which supports the Prime Minister. A political scientist, Rohana Tan Sri Mahmood, stated that "the Chinese have come to accept Malay political dominance" and that they are "no longer perceived as a threat" (Economist, 10/21/95). |
| Aug 1995 |
A report released by the Australian Foreign Affairs Department indicates that the ethnic Chinese in Malaysia control 61% of the share capital by market capitalization. Further, their domination of the professional class is revealed by the fact that they hold 60% of private sector administration and managerial positions. However, in order to reduce frictions with the Malay community, Chinese business people have attempted to establish links with both Malay political organizations and entrepreneurs (Financial Times, 08/16/95). |
| Aug 28, 1995 |
Under the Schools of Vision Programme, Malaysia's vernacular primary schools will merge with national ones. Three schools - national, Tamil, and Chinese - will share a common compound and facilities while maintaining their own administration and medium of instruction (The Straits Times, Singapore, 08/28/95). |
| Oct 1995 |
The airing of a hit Taiwanese television series, Judge Pao, has created a controversy in Malaysia. Under rules following the 1969 riots, Chinese costumed dramas were banned from Malaysian television. However, Metrovision, the television station that bought the TV. series, believes that competitors drew upon the obscure law to stop the showing of the very popular series. Following protests by the DAP and the MCA, the Information Ministry agreed that the show could be aired (Economist, 10/21/95). |
| Nov 1995 |
The Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department asserts that the creation of a "Bangsa Malaysia" should not be legislated. Datuk Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz says that such actions would force all Malaysians to abandon their racial and cultural identities. He believes that a "Bangsa Malaysia" will evolve naturally through the voluntary efforts of all citizens (New Straits Times, 11/20/95). |
| Nov 28, 1995 |
Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad opened the 12th Malaysian Cultural Festival by calling for continued cooperation and understanding among the country's ethnic groups. Noting that all the groups are participating in the festival, Mahathir again reiterated that Malaysia did not want a repeat of the 1969 Kuala Lumpur riots (New Straits Times, 11/28/95). The Financial Times reports that Malaysia's policy of preferential treatment of Malays has produced some dividends. The Malay share of corporate wealth increased from 2.4% in 1970 to around 20% in 1990. This did however fall short of the government target of 30%. The incidence of poverty has markedly declined in the last few decades and Prime Minister Mohamad hopes that Malaysia will be fully industrialized by 2020 (11/28/95). |
| Dec 1995 |
Efforts to promote Sino-Malay cooperation and joint-venture participation have not met expectations, according to Entrepreneur Development Minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamed. He states that only 12 of 24 proposed joint-venture projects are underway. This is despite the establishment of an incentive scheme following the 1992 Bumiputera Congress (New Straits Times, 12/21/95). |
| Jan 1996 |
Vietnamese boat people, primarily of ethnic Chinese origin, residing in the Sungei Besi "transit" camp outside Kuala Lumpur rioted on January 18. One residential block was burned and rocks and Molotov cocktails were utilized. Sixteen boat people and seven policemen were injured (Reuter Textline: Bangkok Post, 02/29/96). |
| Feb 1996 |
Prime Minister Mahathir praised Malaysians for preferring peace and harmony to conflict and chaos. His remarks echoed his previous speeches in emphasizing the need to maintain cordial relations between different ethnic communities. Without providing any details, Mahathir alluded that certain countries hope that chaos would reign in Malaysia (New Straits Times, 02/20/96). |
| Feb 29, 1996 |
Malaysia says that it wants to close down two "transit" camps for Vietnamese boat people. The Malaysian camps have been operating for two decades. The UNHCR considers the boat people to be "economic refugees", making it difficult to arrange re-settlement. A pro-government Chinese politician stated that if the refugees were Muslim or non-Chinese they would have stood a better chance of permanent settlement. Malaysia has not accepted any immigrants since 1952, five years before formal independence (Reuter Textline: Bangkok Post, 02/29/96). |
| Mar 1996 |
The US State Dept's 1995 Report on Human Rights Practices in Malaysia indicates that as a result of elections last year, non-Malays now hold 7/26 cabinet posts. The National Front coalition controls 12 of 13 states including Penang where ethnic Chinese leaders of a coalition party hold executive power (March 1996). |
| Apr 1996 |
Australia's former Governor General is accusing Malaysia of institutionalized racism. Bill Hayden asserts that Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad administers a policy that racially discriminates against the Chinese in education and employment opportunities. He further stated that the Indians in Malaysia are dirt poor. Hayden, who was foreign minister from 1983-88, says that Mahathir often bluffed previous Australian governments into believing that Australians are racist when many countries in their region have inherently racist practices. While Australian government officials have attempted to downplay the comments, there was a heated response in the Malaysian media. Mahathir referred to Hayden as a "frustrated politician" (UPI, 04/04/96, 04/07/96). |
| Apr 13, 1996 |
Education ministers in Malaysia moved away from their mission to spread Bahasa Malaysia as the official language of the country and decided to allow Mandarin language classes to be taught in all Malay schools. This policy change was seen as recognition that Chinese communities both within the country and outside the country's borders are essential to the economic success of Malaysia (The Straits Times [Singapore], 4/22/96). |
| May 1996 |
Malaysia's ruling United Malays National Organization (UMNO) celebrated its 50th anniversary amid growing concerns over party corruption. The country's economic boom and the emergence of a new breed of Malay businesspeople have contributed to the rampant practices of buying powerful positions in UMNO and providing kickbacks from government contracts. While a growing economy has likely reduced Chinese and Indian discontent over the government's preferential Malay policies, opposition MP Lim Guan Eng says that it has deprived a generation of Chinese of education and employment opportunities. Eng further asserts that Malaysia could be at Singapore's stage of development if the Chinese had not suffered such discrimination (Agence France Presse, 05/08/96). |
| May 13, 1996 |
A Malaysian activist, speaking on the occasion of the 27th anniversary of race riots in the country, noted the rise of latent racial tension in Malaysia linked to concerns about slowing economic growth. (AFP) |
| May 25, 1996 |
From 1991-1995, Malaysia's gross domestic product grew at an average of 8.7%. However, the gap between the Malay majority and the Chinese minority has widened. Average Chinese incomes are 80% above those of Malays. Analysts indicate that the growing gap is likely the result of Mohamad's drive for industrialization and his emphasis on growth over distribution. Malays now constitute the majority of leading businesspeople in the country; however, it is unclear whether Malays are becoming concerned about the growing inequality within their own ranks (International Herald Tribune, 05/25/96). |
| Jun 1996 |
Prime Minister Mahathir says that there is only a remote possibility that Malaysia will reunite with Singapore in the foreseeable future. Mahathir was responding to Singapore senior statesman, Lee Kuan Yew, who lent his support for reunification. Lee, who was Prime Minister of the Chinese majority state from 1959-1990, declared that if the economic gap between the two countries could be bridged and if Malaysia adopted meritocracy a reunion could occur. Mahathir asserts that Malaysia does practice meritocracy, but that it is based upon race as the ability of some ethnic groups to compete is still questionable. Singapore, which was part of Malaysia from 1963-65, was expelled for refusing to enact preferential policies for Malays (Agence France Presse, 06/09/96). |
| Jun 11, 1996 |
Chinese politicians and scholars in Malaysia have voiced their opposition to a potential reunification with Singapore. Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) President Dr. Ling Liong Sik says that given the vast differences between the two states, it is unlikely a merger could occur within 300 years. It appears that some Chinese believe that Malaysia will be more socially stable if the economic gap between their community and the Malays is reduced (The Straits Times, Singapore, 06/11/96). |
| Jun 25, 1996 |
The last "transit" camp in Malaysia for the Vietnamese boatpeople has closed as the refugees boarded a plane to Ho Chi Minh City. Malaysia is the first Asian country to close down all its camps; others are also scrambling to do so before UN funding runs out on July 1 (Agence France Presse, 06/25/96). |
| Jul 1996 |
Speaking to the Malaysian Chinese Association's annual general assembly, the Prime Minister chastised younger Chinese for demanding more educational seats and a bigger share of the economic pie. Mahathir Mohamad says that such demands discount considerations such as political stability. He also urged the Chinese to develop new methods to promote racial harmony. Recently, some Chinese sociologists have warned about a resurfacing of racial animosities (Agence France Presse, 07/06/96). |
| Jul 8, 1996 |
The MCA's general assembly has urged the Chinese community to continue playing a significant role in the country's development while also requesting that the government ensure that all communities fairly benefit from economic growth. It also called for an alleviation of teacher shortages in Chinese schools and for the construction of Chinese primary schools in new areas where the Chinese are concentrated (New Straits Times, 07/08/96). |
| Aug 1996 |
All of Malaysia's ethnic groups will be able to benefit from a new government-managed unit trust fund, breaking with the trend of state-run trusts aiding only people in groups indigenous to Malaysia. The $1.2 billion fund attempts to promote savings and provide financing for infrastructure and privatized projects. Prime Minister Mahathir says that this trust does not indicate that the government plans to eliminate the New Economic Policy. He maintains that the NEP is still essential to correct existing disparities (The Reuters Asia-Pacific Business Report, 08/28/96; Asiaweek, 9/27/96). |
| Aug 17, 1996 |
In a speech on how Malaysia has achieved racial harmony, Prime Minister Mahathir cited the wide support of all people in Malaysia for the program of affirmative action in favor of bumiputras (indigenous people, but in practice Malays), institutionalized in the NEP. He argued that people of all ethnic backgrounds in the country accept preference program as the driving force behind political stability, as it reduced racial disparities. (The Straits Times [Singapore]) |
| Sep 1996 |
Statistics indicate that Malay ownership of share capital reached 20.6% in 1995. Malays are dominant in strategic sectors, controlling 60% of industries such as banking, air, sea and land transportation, telecommunications and utilities. The Chinese have also increased their share capital from 22.8% in 1970 to 40.9% twenty-five years later. Foreign ownership of capital declined during this period from 62.1% to 27.7% (Asia Inc., 09/96). |
| Sep 5, 1996 |
Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister says that his citizens' rejection of a reunion with Malaysia reveals their desire for a harmonious multi-racial society based on meritocracy. Tony Tan says that Singapore does not need to rely on others if it continues to maintain a strong economy. Last month, Singapore's Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong stated that if his country's economic development falters, it could be forced to ask for a reunification based on Malaysia's terms (The Straits Times, Singapore, 09/05/96; Reuters, 09/06/96). |
| Sep 6, 1996 |
Malaysia's Prime Minister has lashed out at Singapore following its recent comments over a potential reunification. Mahathir Mohamad accused Singapore of insincerity and of trying to show that Malaysia is bad and does not practice meritocracy. He further asserted that minority Malays in Singapore suffer from discrimination; for example, he says that they are not given high posts in the armed forces and are denied the chance to become air force pilots. Malays are about 15% of Singapore's population of 3 million, the majority are ethnic Chinese (Reuters, 09/06/96). |
| Dec 1996 |
Malaysia and China will exchange television programs that aim to promote social order and religious mores. The programs will contain no violence or sex and provide an alternative to programs from the US or Europe which both countries feel contain such undesirable elements (The Daily Yomiuri, 12/04/96). |
| Dec 13, 1996 |
The education ministry has rejected a proposal by the Chinese community to establish a higher-learning institute as it doesn't have enough Malay equity. Outraged Chinese leaders insist that the proposal was for a non-profit organization and that the requirement of 30% Malay equity for private schools has not yet become law (Asiaweek, 12/13/96). |
| Dec 15, 1996 |
Malaysia's government forced a group of NGOs--representing indigenous peoples, foreign and estate workers, and women in the country--to postpone a scheduled forum on alleged abuse of police power in Malaysia. Government officials threatened to invoke the Internal Security Act and detain the organizers of the forum if they held it as planned. (AFP) |
| Jan 1997 |
The government has issued a directive that by the end of the year the names of all Chinese and Tamil primary schools will no longer reveal their vernacular nature. The move is supposed to foster national unity as all school names would now be standardized. The Dong Jiao Zong, a coalition of Chinese education groups, and the youth wing of the MCA state that this could change the character of Chinese schools. They further assert that suspicion in the Chinese community has already been aroused by the appointment of Malay teachers to many Chinese schools. Non-Malay primary schools currently receive lower financial allocations from the government. Chinese secondary schools will not be affected as they are privately run (The Straits Times, Singapore, 01/20/97). |
| Feb 1997 |
Prime Minister Mahathir shocked many observers when he asserted that "there might be a 'certain weakness' within Malays that caused them to be less resistant to social ills than other races in Malaysia, despite efforts to inculcate moral values through religious teaching". Mahathir continued by stating that figures clearly reveal that the majority of those involved in social problems are Muslim Malays and that this cannot be blamed upon prosperity. The Prime Minister then suggested that the Malays might be able to learn something from the country's non-Muslims (alluding to the Chinese) who were more successful in "avoiding base desires". A Malaysian political analyst expects that Mahathir's comments will lead to widespread resentment among conservative Malays (South China Morning Post, 02/19/97). |
| May 23, 1997 |
In an interview with the Financial Times (London), Prime Minister Mahathir indicated that, given the situation of full employment and resultant worker shortages in Malaysia, the government would soon relax some of the economic policies which favor indigenous people in Malaysia. He noted that rules requiring 30 percent bumiputra-ownership of a company's equity have already been dropped in the IT industry in an effort to ensure the sector's continued growth in the country. |
| Jun 8, 1997 |
An independent survey discovered that Malaysia, along with China and Singapore, has the most heavily censored media in Asia. The Philippines and Hong Kong have the freest media in the region. (AFP) |
| Jul 1, 1997 - Aug 31, 1998 |
Following the collapse of Thailand’s economy, the Malaysian ringgit fell 60 percent to the US dollar during this period, and $(US)119 million dollars were lost on the stock market as the country’s GDP experienced a sudden and dramatic fall. Mahathir pushed an austerity plan for the country, deferring indefinitely infrastructure programs and encouraging Malaysians to buy locally produced goods. (AFP, January 27, August 30, 1998) |
| Oct 5, 1997 |
Amid growing calls from the international community for Prime Minister Mahathir to step down in light of Malaysia’s slumping economy, MCA leader Ling Liong Sik pledged "100 percent support" of his party behind the prime minister. (AFP) |
| Feb 26, 1998 |
The Malaysian government announced that it would soon expand its program of economic liberalization aimed at facilitating foreign equity ownership. Non-Bumiputra firms—including those owned by foreigners as well as by minorities in Malaysia--would now be permitted to buy Bumiputra (Malay) firms. Since 1969 and the adoption of the NEP, national policy dictated that Malays had to own at least 30 percent of each corporation. (Asia Pulse; AFP, April 9) |
| Mar 1998 |
Tensions, and subsequent clashes, emerged in the Chinese-dominated northern state of Penang between Hindus and Muslims. Officials in Penang closed a 50-year-old Hindu temple near a mosque, around which the tensions were centered, to try to ease the problem. Six hundred policemen arrested over 100 people—mostly youths—involved in fights in the region. Authorities decided to relocate the temple, which had been expanded recently, to defuse the tensions. (AFP, March 23, March 28, March 29) |
| Apr 9, 1998 |
Deputy Prime Minister Anwar announced that the decision to ease ownership laws and to allow members of minority groups to own corporations was a permanent policy change, not just a temporary adjustment to deal with the recession. The government will still work to ensure that indigenous Malays still control about 30 percent of the corporate sector in general but will not mandate that at least one-third of each company be owned by bumiputras. (AFP) |
| Jul 22, 1998 |
Ethnic Chinese leaders in Malaysia called upon the government to condemn Indonesia for failing to protect its Chinese population from looting, arson and rape by members of indigenous communities during riots in May. (AFP) |
| Sep 3, 1998 |
Concerns about the political stability of Malaysia are compounded after Mahathir’s long-time ally Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim was ousted from his office amid accusations of sexual impropriety, accepting bribes, and compromising national security. People of all ethnic backgrounds rallied behind Anwar, who denied the charges and launched a challenge to the prime minister. (AFP, September 5) |
| Sep 20, 1998 |
Malaysian police arrest Anwar, which unleashes a series of mass political protests (of mostly Malay people) in Kuala Lampur despite warnings by police against such rallies. Human rights activists and lawyers expressed grave concerns about the bases of Anwar’s arrest and his treatment while in detention, and Anwar’s wife carried on his campaign for political reform. (AFP, September 23, October 10) |
| Jan 22, 1999 |
DAP officials accused the publishers and government distributors of textbooks on Malaysian history of distorting facts in the books to imply that Indian and Chinese settlers in Malacca had betrayed the sultanate and helped the invading Portuguese. (The Straits Times) |
| Feb 7, 1999 |
Recanting previous statements, DAP leaders said that they would cooperate with other opposition parties during upcoming national elections in an effort to oust the BN. (New Straits Times) |
| Feb 13, 1999 |
As the Chinese New Year approached, the MCA endorsed all BN candidates in the upcoming elections in the state of Sabah. These elections will precede national elections and expected to serve as a barometer of the strength of the National Front. DAP, on the other hand, lashed out at the current administration and called upon the people of Malaysia to work together to escape the "triple political, economic, and moral crisis" in which the country is embroiled. (Bernama, February 13; AFP, February 15) |
| Apr 4, 1999 |
Anwar Ibrahim’s wife, Wan Azizah, launched an opposition party called the National Justice Party. The party is multiracial but will be dominated by ethnic Malays. Wan Azizah did say that this party would work with DAP and the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) to oust Mahathir and his coalition in the coming year. By the summer, though, it seemed clear that this coalition would not be able to mount a significant campaign against the BN in the 1999-2000 national elections, as it was originally expected to do. (DPA; New Straits Times, April 27; Asiaweek, July 2) |
| Jul 3, 1999 |
BN Education Minister announced that Chinese primary schools in Malaysia would continue to be fully recognized institutions in the country. (Bernama) |
| Feb 10, 2006 |
The Democratic Action Party organized a small demonstration against the treatment of eleven elderly Chinese men by Malaysian police.
Source: UPI, 2/10/2006, "Aged Chinese victims of police, politics". |
| Apr 13, 2006 |
The Democratic Action Party leads a protest against several Malaysian laws and court cases indicating that the government could legally charge ethnic Chinese couples with public indecency for kissing and hugging in public.
Source: Agence France Presse, 4/13/2006, "Malaysians protest against laws that make public kissing a crime". |
