[CALS Article] Opinion: Federalism is a strength, not a weakness

The CALS Visiting Scholar Professor Andrew Harding emphasises in his article for The Edge Malaysia that Malaysia’s federal structure is not a weakness to be feared, but a strength to be embraced. He points out that the federal set-up allows for both the national and state governments to operate within defined spheres, with the courts acting as the guard-rails when one oversteps its boundaries.

Harding emphasises that federalism helps ventilate the political system, giving states the capacity to harbour different parties, policies and identities without the entire web collapsing into uniformity. He uses the example of Sabah and Sarawak, whose cultural, ethnic and historical differences are especially marked, to illustrate why decentralisation and state autonomy are not just fair-play ideals but practical necessities.

According to Harding, while Malaysia has at times experienced strong centralisation, the current trajectory hints at a renewed emphasis on decentralised power and “subsidiarity”, letting decisions close to the people be made by local authorities rather than always by the centre. He concludes that this pluralist federal model should be seen as a resource for national unity, not an obstacle: by enabling difference to flourish inside a shared constitutional canopy, the system can strengthen Malaysia’s democracy and social cohesion.

To find out more: https://theedgemalaysia.com/node/775120