Strategies and the Tactics of Mobilisation : Opposition Political Parties in Malaysia, 1982-2003

This study examines the strategies and tactics of political mobilisation by the opposition political parties in Malaysia during Mahathir's era. The study is based on two major arguments. First, the electoral performance of the opposition political parties is related to the ways in which they accommodate each other objectives. Second, opposition strategies and tactics have evoked different types of responses by the members of ruling coalition, Barisan Nasional. This study is based upon the framework which explains the features of parliamentary and extra-parliamentary strategies. It examines the linkage between parliamentary and extra-parliamentary strategies, the performance of opposition parties and the responses of the ruling coalition.The study found; (1) opposition parties were not effective in achieving their goals when they pursued divergent strategies.(2) opposition parties did combine and pursued similar strategies and succeeded in mobilising mass support during the elections. However, such cooperation has been rare and did not last long. (3) the government response of the ruling coalition varied. They were repressive when the opposition resorted to extra-parliamentary.