Beyond the L ook E ast P olicy: U nited M alays N ational O rganisation and the Fall of the L iberal D emocratic P arty in J apan

• Published in: Asian politics & policy 2014-01, Vol.6 (1), p.25-44
• Main Authors: Ismail, Muhamad Takiyuddin, Abdul Hamid, Ahmad Fauzi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1943-0779; 1943-0787
• DOI: 10.1111/aspp.12090

This article argues that the strong relationship between M alaysia and J apan is also stimulated by symbiotic ties binding together both countries' respective major political parties, i.e., the U nited M alays N ational O rganisation ( UMNO ) and the L iberal D emocratic P arty ( LDP ). UMNO , especially under the leadership of M ahathir M ohamad (1981–2003), derived political lessons from developments affecting LDP in J apan. First, emulation of J apan's success in economic development became the basis for the L ook E ast P olicy launched in 1981. Second, which is the focus of this article, lessons were drawn from the failure of LDP to retain power twice, in 1993 and in 2009. Although LDP 's reversal of fortunes served as a landmark for UMNO in situating changes to its trajectory since 1993, the analogical reasoning and political lessons applied by UMNO leaders were, to a large extent, flawed. Arguably, politicians frequently do misjudge in analogizing between different situations which at a glance seem to be comparable.