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Green Wave (Malay: Gelombang Hijau), also known as Green Tsunami (Malay: Tsunami Hijau), is a political phenomenon that has taken place in Malaysia since the 2022 Malaysian general election. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] This political phenomenon involves Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) and its ultraconservative voters, who mainly originate from the northeastern and northwestern parts of Peninsular Malaysia. Ideologically, the phenomenon mostly concerns a far-right, authoritarian and ultranationalist movement that espouses increased Malay-Muslim hegemony in Malaysian politics as well as further intimidation and marginalisation of Malaysia's minority groups and religions.[ citation needed ]
"So much so, that it is from amongst them those who control the country's economy and use it to damage the politics, administrative affairs and judiciary. In fact, they are the biggest group that damage the country's politics and economy, the majority of them from non-Muslims and non-Bumiputera."
– Abdul Hadi Awang, August 2022 [7]
"“Currently, PAS seeks to strengthen the politics of Malay-Islam and we are obliged to lead the way by providing support and cooperation to unite the Malays through Islam. The aim is to restore the power of the Malay-Muslim leadership with the agenda of leading the unity of the people."
– Abdul Hadi Awang, May 2023 [8]
During the political crisis in 2020, some politicians tried to establish an ethnic Malay-centric coalition government. [9] They accomplished it through the withdrawal of Malaysian United Indigenous Party (BERSATU) from Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition as well as several members of parliament (MP) from the People's Justice Party (PKR) led by its deputy president, Azmin Ali. Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad then resigned, creating a power vacuum. The Pakatan Harapan government was replaced by Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition government led by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, reasserting predominant Malay-Muslim rule over Malaysia after 22 months. However, the PN government lost power because UMNO withdrew its support. Ismail Sabri Yaakob was appointed as the new prime minister for 20 months until UMNO president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi urged Ismail Sabri to dissolve parliament and hold snap elections.
During the 2022 Malaysian general election, the Perikatan Nasional coalition, comprising the Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS), Malaysian United Indigenous Party (BERSATU) and Malaysian People's Movement Party (GERAKAN), won 73 seats in the Malaysian lower house. This resulted in PAS having the highest number of members in the Dewan Rakyat among all the political parties after the election with 43 members.
PAS' electoral base is largely centered around Peninsular Malaysia's rural and conservative northern and eastern coasts, particularly in the states of Kelantan, Kedah, Perlis, Terengganu and Pahang. They also gained significant support in the rural areas of Perak and Malacca. PAS helped their coalition sweep the northwestern and eastern coastal states of Peninsular Malaysia in a landslide, winning every parliamentary seat in the states of Perlis, Kelantan and Terengganu, and all but Sungai Petani in Kedah.
"The non-Malays achieved a lot of progress. Don’t try to scare (other people) with Malay rule by painting them green."
– Mahathir Mohamad, April 2023 [10] [11]
"There is no need to fear or panic about the green wave. It's a political phenomenon, not a spectre or ghost."
– Hassan Abdul Karim, August 2023 [12]
"BN's victory shows that the coalition has blocked the "green wave" that the other coalition (PN) has been promoting and championing for several months."
– Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail, October 2023 [13]
Some critics argued that green wave is a tactical move meant to put fear in the hearts of people, especially non-Malays, by bringing up images of radical fundamentalism. [14] Perikatan Nasional information chief Azmin Ali has claim that the reason PN did well in the 2022 general election was because their policies benefit the people of every race when they were the ruling coalition from 2020 until 2021. [15]
Lim Guan Eng, former Secretary-General and current Chairman of Democratic Action Party (DAP), said that the green wave is very dangerous that they will demolish Indian temple and forbid people from going to concerts. He subsequently denied the claims by saying that his statement was misinterpreted and twisted by the media. [16] [17] Many opposition politicians, including PAS Secretary-General Takiyuddin Hassan condemned his statements and said that decisive action should be taken by the authorities and Home Ministry of Malaysia on Lim. [18]
After BN victory in Pelangai seat, BN Pahang's chief, Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail said that the "green wave" was blocked by BN and the community didn't support the PN coalition despite they played up various sentiments, perceptions and slander like 3R issues (religion, race and royalty). [19]
This political phenomenon ideologically focuses on Islamism, pan-Islamism, Malay supremacy, Bumiputera affirmative action, traditionalist conservatism, right-wing populism, anti-communism, anti-LGBT, anti-West, anti-United States, opposition to immigration and enforcement of Sharia Law. [5]
The unprecedented cooperation between Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional left many of supporters disillusioned. Some of them, especially those in BN could not accept the agreement of a unity government between BN and PH. Some of them, mainly UMNO members, also decided to leave BN to join either PAS or BERSATU. Most of Malay voters dissatisfied with BN transferred their votes to PN. [20]
On the other hand, relationship between PAS and PH has been acrimonious since the dissolution of Pakatan Rakyat in 2015. Disputes between PAS and DAP has left PAS split into two different factions. The faction in favour of continued cooperation with PH, led by Mohamad Sabu, left the party to form the National Trust Party (AMANAH). The other faction, led by Hadi, decided to sever ties with PH.
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The 2022 elections was the first time which voters aged 18 to 21 are allowed to vote. PAS and PN used social media to attract young voters to vote for PN.
Post-election analysis showed that 37 percent of youth voters cast their votes for PN, higher than both BN and PH. While both PH and BN relied on elderly voters, PN primarily relied on the youth vote. The reasons why more young voters supported PN included its use of TikTok for campaigning, and the rise of social conservatism among young Malays. [21] [22]
The Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition, comprising the Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS), Malaysian United Indigenous Party (BERSATU) and Malaysian People's Movement Party (GERAKAN), won 74 seats in the Malaysian lower house, becoming the second largest coalition in Dewan Rakyat after PH. PAS had the most number of elected members in the Dewan Rakyat with 43 members, while BERSATU had 31 members. Most of the seats that had been captured by PN have more than 70% registered Malay voters.
In the state level, PN won all but one seat in Perlis, denied the BN dominance in Pahang and won the most seats in Perak.
The incumbent Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition faced a historic wipeout for first time in Perlis and second time in national level, [note 1] winning no seats. The PN coalition won 14 of the 15 seats, achieving a supermajority and formed the first ever non-BN government in the state's history. PH won the remaining seat and became the sole opposition.
The election resulted in a hung assembly with PN winning 17 seats, the same number of seats won by the incumbent BN coalition. It ended BN's dominance in the state. PH won the remaining 8 seats.
The results of the election resulted in a hung assembly. Although PN won 26 seats, it did not have enough seats to form a majority. PH won 24 seats and the incumbent BN coalition won the remaining 9 seats.
The Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition won 146 seats out of 245 seats that were contested in 2023 state elections. The coalition won all seats in Terengganu, and gained a supermajority in Kedah and Kelantan. It also denied the PH-BN coalition's supermajority in Selangor, and became the main opposition for the first time in Negeri Sembilan.
The Barisan Nasional (BN)–Pakatan Harapan (PH) electoral pact won the election by capturing 34 of 56 seats, with PH winning 32 of those seats and BN winning 2 seats. The Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition won the remaining 22 seats to become the main opposition in the state assembly.
The governing PN coalition led by Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) won 43 of 45 seats, achieving a supermajority and continuing PAS's dominance in the state since 1990. The BN–PH electoral pact won the remaining two seats, with BN and PH each winning one seat and becoming the main opposition in the state assembly.
The PN coalition led by PAS won all 32 seats, recording the first clean sweep in the state's history since 1978. BN lost all the 10 seats it had prior to the election. This left the state assembly with no elected opposition representatives.
The BN–PH electoral pact won 31 of 36 seats, achieving a supermajority, with PH winning 17 of those seats and BN winning 14 seats. Although neither coalition had a majority, their electoral pact allowed them to form the majority. The PN coalition won the remaining 5 seats and became the main opposition in the state assembly.
The governing PN coalition led by PAS won 33 of 36 seats, achieving a supermajority. PH won the remaining three seats for the BN–PH electoral pact. This meant for the first time in the state's history, BN would have no representation in the state assembly. PH took BN's place as the state's main opposition.
The BN–PH electoral pact won 29 of 40 seats, with PH winning 27 of those seats and BN winning 2 seats. The PN coalition won the remaining 11 Malay-majority seats to become the main opposition in the state assembly.
PAS candidate managed to defend their victory in the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary seat with a larger majority than in the 2022 general election.
The PH candidates for both seats managed to defend the seats in a straight contest with PN. However, PN managed to reduce the majority of votes won by PH. [23] [24]
BN candidate managed to defend their victory in this seat with a smaller majority than in the 2022 state election. [25]
Menteri Besar of Terengganu Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar of PN and PAS defeated former Chief of Defence Forces Raja Mohamed Affandi of BN by a landslide victory and a significantly increased majority of votes of nearly 10,000.
The National Front is a political coalition of Malaysia that was founded in 1973 as a coalition of centre-right and right-wing political parties to succeed the Alliance Party. It is the third largest political coalition with 30 seats in the Dewan Rakyat after Pakatan Harapan (PH) with 82 seats and Perikatan Nasional (PN) with 74 seats.
The Malaysian Islamic Party, also known as the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party or its Jawi-based acronym PAS, is an Islamist political party in Malaysia. Ideologically focused on Islamic fundamentalism, PAS's electoral base is largely centred around Peninsular Malaysia's rural and eastern coasts and conservative northern, particularly in the states of Kelantan, Terengganu, Perlis, and Kedah. They also gained significant support in the rural areas of Perak and Pahang in the last 2022 general election and the 2023 state elections; dubbed as the "Green Wave".
The Kelantan State Legislative Assembly is the unicameral state legislature of the Malaysian state of Kelantan. It consists of 45 members representing single-member constituencies throughout the state. Elections are held no more than five years apart.
The Gagasan Sejahtera was a coalition of opposition Islamist political parties which promote the "ideas of peace" in Malaysia. The informal electoral pact was formed initially on 16 March 2016 by Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) and Parti Ikatan Bangsa Malaysia (IKATAN) as a Third Force to face both ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) and the opposition Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalitions in the upcoming 2018 Malaysian general election (GE14). It had announced on 13 August 2016 the pact to be formally called Gagasan Sejahtera. Pan-Malaysian Islamic Front (BERJASA) had later joined the coalition on 23 September 2016. The formation of the alliance brought criticism from both the main coalitions of BN and PH.
The 14th Kedah State election was held on 9 May 2018, concurrently with the 2018 Malaysian general election. The previous state election was held on 5 May 2013. The state assemblymen is elected to 5 years term each.
The 14th Kelantan State election was held on 9 May 2018, concurrently with the 2018 Malaysian general election. The previous state election was held on 5 May 2013. The state assemblymen is elected to 5 years term each.
General elections were held in Malaysia on Saturday, 19 November 2022. The prospect of snap elections had been considered high due to the political crisis that had been ongoing since 2020; political instability caused by coalition or party switching among members of Parliament, combined with the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic, contributed to the resignation of two prime ministers and the collapse of each of their respective coalition governments since the 2018 general elections.
The 2020–2022 Malaysian political crisis was triggered after several Members of Parliament (MPs) of the 14th Malaysian Parliament changed party support, leading to the loss of a parliamentary majority, the collapse of two successive coalition governments, and the resignation of two Prime Ministers. The political crisis culminated in a 2022 snap general election and eventual formation of a coalition government.
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Dato' Sri Ikmal Hisham Bin Abdul Aziz is a Malaysian politician who has served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Tanah Merah since May 2013. He served as the Deputy Minister of Defence for the second term in the Barisan Nasional (BN) administration under former Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob and former Minister Hishammuddin Hussein from August 2021 to the collapse of the BN administration in November 2022 and the first term in the Perikatan Nasional (PN) administration under former Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and former Minister Ismail Sabri from March 2020 to the collapse of the PN administration in August 2021. He is a member of the Malaysian United Indigenous Party (BERSATU), a component party of the PN and formerly Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalitions and was a member of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), a component party of the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition. After the defeat of BN to PH in 2018 general election, he resigned from UMNO in 2018 and joined BERSATU in 2019.
The 2021 Malacca state election, formally the 15th Malacca state election, took place on 20 November 2021. This election was to elect 28 members of the 15th Malacca State Legislative Assembly. The previous assembly was dissolved on 4 October 2021.
The 2022 Johor state election, formally the 15th Johor general election, took place on 12 March 2022. The election was to elect 56 members of the 15th Johor State Legislative Assembly. The previous assembly was dissolved on 22 January 2022.
The 2022 Pahang state election, formally the 15th Pahang state election, took place on 19 November 2022. This election was to elect 42 members of the 15th Pahang State Legislative Assembly. The previous assembly was dissolved on 14 October 2022. The election for the Tioman was delayed to 7 December following the death of the Perikatan candidate.
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The 2022 Perak state election, formally the 15th Perak state election, took place on 19 November 2022. This election was to elect 59 members of the 15th Perak State Legislative Assembly. The previous assembly was dissolved on 17 October 2022.
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Izizam Ibrahim is a Malaysian politician who has served as Member of the Perlis State Executive Council (EXCO) in the Perikatan Nasional (PN) state administration under Menteri Besar Mohd Shukri Ramli as well as Member of the Perlis State Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Titi Tinggi since November 2022. He is the first Titi Tinggi MLA of Malay ethnicity. He is a member of the Malaysian United Indigenous Party (BERSATU), a component party of the PN and formerly Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition. He is the State Treasurer of PN of Perlis, State Deputy Chairman of BERSATU of Perlis and Division Chief of BERSATU of Padang Besar. He was a member of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), a component party of the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition. He was the Branch Deputy Head of Public Housing (RPA) of UMNO of Padang Besar, Branch Youth Head of RPA of UMNO Padang Besar, Division Member of the Information Committee of UMNO of Padang Besar. He is also presently one of the three BERSATU Perlis EXCO Members along with Megat Hashirat Hassan and Wan Zikri Afthar Ishak.
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The 15th Kelantan state election were held on 12 August 2023 to elect the State Assembly members of the 15th Kelantan State Legislative Assembly, the legislature of the Malaysian state of Kelantan.