Federal-state relations in Malaysia

Abstract

Mid-way through last year's elections campaign, the Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) which controls the government in that east Malaysian state dropped a bombshell - that it would withdraw from the Barisan Nasional and cross over to the opposition, Gagasan Rakyat. That announcement effec- tively meant the loss of state government for the ruling Barisan, which, prior to the polls, controlled not only the national government, but all the state governments. The Prime Minister, Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, visibly angered, described the move as "a stab in the back" and vowed that he would not take the PBS back, at least not under the present leadership.