Crisis Phase (September 16, 1963-June 16, 1968): Malaya, Singapore, Sarawak, and North Borneo (Sabah) formed the Malaysian Federation and became a member of the Commonwealth of Nations (CON) on September 16, 1963. Parliamentary elections were held on April 25, 1964, and the Alliance Party (AP) headed by Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman won 89 out of 104 seats in the House of Representatives.
Conflict Phase (June 17, 1968-December 2, 1989): The Communist Party of Malaya (CPM) established the Malayan National Liberation Army (MNLA), and the MNLA rebelled against the Malaysian government beginning on June 17, 1968. MNLA rebels killed 17 government soldiers near Kroh-Betong on June 17, 1968. British troops were deployed in support of the Malaysian government. Thailand provided military assistance and troops in support of the government beginning in July 1968. Government troops and Thai troops launched a military offensive against MNLA rebels beginning on April 1, 1969. British troops began withdrawing from the country on February 10, 1969. Parliamentary elections were held on May 10, 1969, and the AP won 66 out of 104 seats in the House of Representatives. The Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) withdrew from the government coalition headed by Prime Minister Abdul Rahman on May 13, 1969. Ethnic Chinese and Malay clashed in Kuala Lumpur on May 12-15, 1969, resulting in the deaths of some 200 individuals. Prime Minister Rahman suspended the constitution on May 14, 1969, and declared a state-of-emergency on May 15, 1969. The government requested military assistance from Britain, Australia, and India on May 21, 1969. Sixteen individuals were killed in ethnic violence in Kuala Lumpur and Malacca on June 28-July 1, 1969. Some 202 individuals were killed in political violence between May 13 and July 5, 1969. Government troops and MNLA rebels clashed on July 28, 1969, resulting in the deaths of four government soldiers. Government troops and MNLA rebels clashed in the Klian Intan region of the state of Perak on April 20-22, 1970, resulting in the deaths of seven government soldiers. Prime Minister Rahman resigned on September 21, 1970, and he was succeeded by Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Razak on September 22, 1970. The government lifted the state-of-emergency on February 19, 1971, and the parliament was reconvened on February 20, 1971. Communist rebels attacked government troops in Sarawak on March 26, 1972, resulting in the deaths of 15 soldiers. Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak formed the National Front (Barisan Nasional) coalition, including the United Malayan National Organization (UMNO) and the MCA, on December 22, 1972. Parliamentary elections were held on August 24, 1974, and the National Front (Barisan Nasional) coalition won 135 out of 154 seats in the House of Representatives. Government police clashed with students in Kuala Lumpur on December 3, 1974. Communist rebels killed seven government soldiers in Perak and Kedah states on April 7, 1975. Communist rebels killed eight government soldiers and three civilians in Kedah state on June 18, 1975. Communist rebels killed three government policemen near the Thai border on August 14, 1975. Communist rebels killed two government policemen in Perak state on August 30, 1975. Communist rebels killed two government policemen in Kuala Lumpur on September 3, 1975. Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak died in London on January 14, 1976, and Datuk Hussein bin Onn was sworn in as prime minister on January 15, 1976. Communist rebels killed eleven government soldiers near Gubir on April 26, 1976. Government troops and Thai troops attacked communist rebels in southern Thailand on January 14-17, 1977. The Pan Malayan Islamic Party (PMIP) expelled Datuk Haji Mohamed, chief minister of the state of Kelantan, from the party on October 10, 1977, and the State Assembly of Kelantan approved a motion of no-confidence against Chief Minister Datuk Haji Mohamed on October 15, 1977. The federal government imposed a state-of-emergency in the state of Kelantan on November 8, 1977. The federal government lifted the state-of-emergency in the state of Kelantan on February 12, 1978. Prime Minister Datuk Hussein bin Onn dissolved the House of Representatives on June 12, 1978. Parliamentary elections were held on July 8, 1978, and the National Front (Barisan Nasional) coalition won 132 out of 154 seats in the House of Representatives. Amnesty International (AI) issued a report on August 29, 1979, which called for the repeal of the Internal Security Act. Prime Minister Datuk Hussein bin Onn resigned on July 16, 1981, and Mahathir bin Mohamed of the UMNO formed a government as prime minister on July 18, 1981. Parliamentary elections were held on April 22, 1982, and the National Front (Barisan Nasional) coalition won 132 out of 154 seats in the House of Representatives. The CPM announced on June 20, 1982 that the MNLA had been renamed the Malaysian People’s Army (MPA). The International Federation of Human Rights (IFHR) sent a seven-member fact-finding mission (Britain, France, Japan, US) to Malaysia on August 1-6, 1982. The IFHR issued a report in January 1983, which criticized the government of Malaysia for human rights abuses. Government troops and Thai troops launched a military offensive against MPA rebels on February 12, 1985. Parliamentary elections were held on August 3, 1986, and the National Front (Barisan Nasional) coalition won 148 out of 177 seats in the House of Representatives. Government and the CPM representatives signed a Thailand-mediated ceasefire agreement in Hat Yai, Thailand on December 2, 1989. CPM rebels agreed to surrender their weapons to the government. Some 3,000 individuals were killed during the conflict.
Post-Conflict Phase (December 3, 1989-December 31, 1990): Parliamentary elections were held on October 20-21, 1990, and the National Front coalition won 127 out of 180 seats in the House of Representatives. The Commonwealth of Nations (CON) sent the Commonwealth Observer Group (COG-Malaysia), which consisted of 20 observers, to monitor the parliamentary elections from October 9-22, 1990. COG-Malaysia reported that the elections were “free in accordance with Malaysian law and circumstances.”
Post-Crisis Phase (January 1, 1991-present): Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad dissolved the House of Representatives on November 11, 1999. Parliamentary elections were held on November 29, 1999, and the National Front (Barisan Nasional) coalition won 148 out of 193 seats in the House of Representatives. The UMNO won 71 seats in the House of Representatives, and the Parti Islam se-Malaysia (PIM) won 27 seats in the House of Representatives. Fadzil Noor, leader of the PIM, died on June 23, 2002. Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad resigned on October 31, 2003, and he was succeeded by Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. Parliamentary elections were held on March 21, 2004, and National Front (Barisan Nasional) coalition led by Prime Minister Badawi won 198 out of 219 seats in the House of Representatives. The Democratic Action Party (DAP) won twelve seats in the House of Representatives, and the Alternative Front (Barisan Alternatiff) coalition won eight seats in the House of Representatives. Parliamentary elections were held on March 8, 2008, and the National Front (Barisan Nasional) coalition won 140 out of 219 seats in the House of Representatives. The Pakatan Rakyat (PR) won 82 seats in the House of Representatives. Prime Minister Badawi resigned on April 3, 2009, and he was succeeded by Mohammad Najib Abdul Razak.
[Sources: Beigbeder, 1994, 244; Bercovitch and Jackson, 1997, 59-61; British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), November 30, 1999, March 8, 2008; Brogan, 1992, 219-221; Degenhardt, 1988, 230-232; Facts on File, May 15-21, 1969, July 10-16, 1969, July 31-August 6, 1969, May 28-June 3, 1970, October 5, 1974, October 1-7, 1970, May 8, 1976, February 12, 1977, November 19, 1977, August 4, 1978; Jessup, 1998, 449-451; Keesing’s Record of World Events, June 21-28, 1969, October 31-November 7, 1970, February 13-20, 1971, October 16-23, 1971, February 12-18, 1973, September 16-22, 1974, February 3-9, 1975, September 15-21, 1975, April 2, 1976, January 13, 1978, June 9, 1978, January 19, 1979, September 4, 1981, August 27, 1982, November 26, 1982, August 1983, November 1986, December 1989, October 1990, November 1999; Langer, 1972, 1320-1322; O’Ballance 1966; Reuters, June 23, 2002.]