POLITICAL CHANGE IN MALAYSIA?: A REVIEW OF 2008 GENERAL ELECTIONS

Dear all,

INVITATION TO INPUMA FORUM SERIES

The International Institute of Public Policy and Management (INPUMA),University of Malaya, would like to invite you to our forum seriesentitled,

POLITICAL CHANGE IN MALAYSIA?: A REVIEW OF 2008GENERAL ELECTIONS

Details of the programme are as follows:-

Speakers:
* Assoc. Prof. Dr. Edmund Terence Gomez (University of Malaya)
* Dr. Bridget Welsh (Johns Hopkins University)

Moderator: Professor Dr. Mohd Hazim Shah Abdul Murad (University of Malaya)

DATE : MONDAY, 25AUGUST 2008

TIME : 3.45 pm - 6.15 pm

PLACE : AUDITORIUM RIMBA ILMU, UNIVERSITY OF MALAYA

Please find below a synopsis about the forum for your kind attention and reference:

THE2008 MALAYSIAN GENERAL ELECTIONS: A STATE AND SOCIETY IN TRANSITION?by ASSOC. PROF. DR. EDMUND TERENCE GOMEZ

The results of the 2008General Elections suggest that while Malaysian society hasexperienced fundamental and significant transformations as itseconomy developed, its political parties and the countrys politicalstructures have not kept pace. The election results further suggestthat a serious gap has emerged between what Malaysians want fromtheir government and what they actually received. Through anassessment of electoral trends between 1990 and 2008 and a review ofthe outcomes of key economic and social policies on Malaysiansociety, this study assesses the validity of these view points.

DID THE 2008 MALAYSIAN ELECTION CAMPAIGN MATTER? REFLECTIONS ON MESSAGING, MACHINERY AND MASS MOBILISATION IN THE 12TH GENERAL ELECTIONS.
by DR.BRIDGET WELSH

One of the defining transformations of MalaysianPolitics in the 12th General Elections has been the adoption on newmodern campaign techniques, from polling and party branding tomulti-media messaging and blogging. This forum discusses the impactof the campaign on support for different political parties and onshaping different forms of political participation among Malaysians.Drawing from a national survey conducted by the Merdeka Center in thewake of the election campaign and fieldwork observation fromthroughout the election period, this forum highlight different publicperceptions of political parties, patterns and preferences of use ofdifferent campaign techniques and profiles the different coresupporters of political parties. It illustrates that the campaignitself played a decisive role in shaping the 2008 electoral outcomes. For your information, this forum is free and open to the public. Look forward to your presence and participation in our forthcomingforum.

Thank you.

Best wishes,
International Institute of Public Policy and Management (INPUMA)
Level 3, Block CUniversity of Malaya City Campus Complex
Jalan Tun Ismail
50480 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03 - 2617 3039/3038/3005
Fax: 03 - 2617 3040/3027
E-mail: inpuma@um.edu.my
Website: http://www.inpuma.org.my