Topic: 2025 – Authoritarianism and Democracy
Country: Malaysia
Delegate Name: Kenji Crawford
Special Political and Decolonization
Authoritarianism and Democracy
Malaysia
Kenji Crawford
Forest Hills Eastern
The rise of Authoritarianism and the gradual decline of democratic norms have had significant repercussions worldwide, threatening global stability and human rights. As authoritarian regimes become more durable, now averaging 20 years in contrast to 14 years in the early 2000s, billions of people face restrictions on expression and political participation. Several United Nations organizations, such as the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF), as well as many other Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), have worked to counter democratic backsliding by improving election integrity, strengthening institutions, and civic programs. Malaysia is deeply concerned about this issue due to its history of democratic transitions as well as its regional position as a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which includes member states with political structures ranging from closed autocracies to liberal democracies. The UN has taken action by repeatedly emphasizing the protection of democratic processes through resolutions on human rights, governance, and electoral assistance, all of which Malaysia recognizes as vital to global democratic resilience.
Malaysia is a federal parliamentary democracy as well as a constitutional monarchy, exhibiting aspects of electoral democracy, while still retaining some authoritarian elements. The Economist Intelligence Unit’s (EIU) Democracy Index 2024 ranked Malaysia as first among Southeast Asian countries, yet it is still classified as a flawed democracy with a score of 7.29 out of 10. Domestically, Malaysia has taken steps to work towards stronger liberal democratic standards, such as lowering the voting age to 18, implementing automatic voter registration, and advancing anti-corruption measures. Malaysia has collaborated with international organizations, such as UNDP and the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA), to strengthen election management and civic education. Malaysia reaffirms its commitment to promoting good governance and political integrity, and to Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 16, which “promotes peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.”
Going forward, Malaysia proposes several measures aimed at preventing democratic backsliding and reinforcing political institutions worldwide. Domestically, progress has been made through election reforms, greater youth participation, and the passing of the Parliamentary Services Act in July of this year; however, areas for improvement remain, such as enhancing judicial independence and strengthening media freedom. Internationally, Malaysia recommends that SPECPOL support the creation of a UN-led framework focused on election monitoring, combating corruption, and teaching good governance to public officials. Additionally, Malaysia advocates for greater ASEAN-UN cooperation to promote peaceful political transition mechanisms and political accountability. Through endorsing these steps, Malaysia believes that the international community will strengthen democratic institutions while protecting sovereignty. Through shared commitment, global cooperation, and dialogue, Malaysia affirms that the protection and establishment of democracy is paramount to global stability, peace, and sustainable development.
Works Cited:
https://www.gu.se/en/news/the-world-is-becoming-increasingly-authoritarian-but-there-is-hope
https://freedomhouse.org/issues/countering-authoritarianism
https://www.undp.org/future-development/signals-spotlight-2023/when-democracies-autocratise
https://www.aei.org/op-eds/malaysia-follows-indonesia-on-the-road-from-authoritarian-hegemony/
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/malaysia-s-democratic-transition-why-it-matters-southeast-asia-muslim-world
https://bersih.org/2025/10/15/malaysia-and-the-decline-of-global-democracy/
https://globalaffairs.org/bluemarble/fight-lower-malaysias-voting-age
https://www.idea.int/news/call-action-lessons-sekolah-reformasi-programme
https://www.unodc.org/roseap/en/malaysia/2025/07/integrity-good-governance/story.html
https://www.idea.int/democracytracker/report/malaysia/july-2025
